Identity can be a struggle for many young people today, and through this painting, I have found a way to ground myself and express how I feel about this reality. Creating in this way takes courage, yet I find that the 'why' behind creating is even more daring.

I could have created a typical piece about trying to find which pieces fit into the puzzle of my identity, but with this work, I chose to take a leap of faith. By realizing that my identity does not come from myself alone, but through Him who lives in me, I found assurance and purpose in submitting a piece like this. I am His, and He is mine; because of this, it took courage to be bold and present the struggle of identity through a different lens.

There is peace that comes with creating artwork that steps outside the ordinary, and this piece truly reflects who I am as a Christian. As an artist who desires to follow Jesus, I hope this work shows others that identity and life can be entrusted to His care, no matter how broken or fragile it may feel. I strive to follow in the footsteps of the Greatest Artist, trusting that He is always 'Forming My Identity.'

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" -Ephesians 2:10

God created us. He created me and you and me, and He is in control of everything, including my own identity. Young people these days struggle with their own identity, but as Christians, our identity is proclaimed within the story of Jesus. We don't need to worry about who we are 'identified' as, but we are all called into God's family! We are His children, within His Kingdom, and that is our identity!

I really tried to reflect this thought in this painting. I wanted to express that even if we are all chaotic and feel broken, He can fix us up, calling us to be His. He knows the past, present, and future, so we can trust Him completely to help us. He is the Greatest Artist, and with this piece, I tried to depict a little bit more of following in His footsteps.

Jesus

Price: $3000

For inquiry of purchase, contact me directly at my email, gallagher_ceili@hotmail.com, and I would love to assist you!

I love to do custom artwork! If you want to commission me, DM me directly on Instagram @ceiligallagher, and we can further connect!