Ida Scott

"My work explores the idea of “body horror”—not in the sense of twisted, mangled forms, but the unsettling experience of simply existing in a body. I’ve always felt detached from my physical self, like I exist only in my mind, with my body just being something I have to occupy to survive. Through my art, I wanted to explore this feeling of disconnection while also trying to bridge the gap between mind and body.

One of the most fascinating parts of this process was seeing familiar faces come through in my paintings. It made me wonder what it would feel like to watch my own face appear on the canvas—maybe it could help me feel more connected to my physical self.

This year, I’ve been inspired by Jenny Saville’s approach to the female figure, Carolyn Anderson’s ability to capture light with loose brushstrokes, and Skyler Morrison, a former student from my school whose impressionistic style really influenced my work. Through my art, I’m trying to communicate something that’s hard to put into words—the strange, sometimes indifferent relationship between who we are and the bodies we exist in."

Works by Ida Scott