This Renaissance inspired self-portrait was created for the inaugural exhibition of The Royal House of Medici during Miami Art Week 2002. Although inspired by Antonio da Coreggio’s 16th century painting painting of Jupiter’s secretive seduction of Io, priestess of Juno and daughter of the river god Inachus, in this work I wanted to offer a more female-empowering and sensitive interpretation of the story. (This aligns deeply with my values, but also honours my own sensibilities as a survivor of sexual transgression.) Here Io is purposefully depicted on her own, a figure of contemplation and strength, curiously reaching out, mesmerised and drawn by the allure of the dark clouds (representing a stormy and possibly illegal love)... As a subtle counter-note, the dark cat appears at her side, both a witchy protector and a symbol of emotional strength and female sexuality.