She Sat With Silence II

Kelly Batsiokis is a Brisbane-based artist whose figurative paintings explore vulnerability, resilience, and the stories people carry beneath the surface. Drawing on her own experiences navigating the impacts of Hashimoto's disease, stress, and periods of anxiety, Kelly uses symbolism, florals, and expressive colour to reflect both struggle and recovery.

Her work seeks to create moments of connection, encouraging viewers to recognise parts of themselves in each piece. Kelly has exhibited across Brisbane and Adelaide and continues to develop a body of work centred on emotional honesty, hope, and the quiet strength found in everyday life.

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I created this work to reflect the quiet, often-unseen nature of healing. The figure folds inward; not in defeat, but in self-compassion. The pansies symbolise remembrance, resilience, and the courage to sit with difficult emotions rather than avoid them. For me, recovery begins when we allow ourselves space to pause, reflect, and begin again.