Fernanda Pedroso, As she Grows (ART & CONCEPTUAL 2026)

Francesca was pregnant with her first child when this portrait was made. The sphere, which I hand-built from papier-mâché, became a womb: a place of protection, growth and transformation. She and her partner wrote messages of love to their daughter-to-be across its surface. Although not immediately visible, these words quietly inhabit the image, carrying their hopes for her. The work explores a simple yet profound idea: as a new life grows within Francesca, a mother is also being formed through love, change and anticipation.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.