Melody Thornton

Yorkshire-based fine art photographer Melody Thornton constructs images with layers and narrative. Her recent work confronts history paintings and the narratives within. Her self portraits also challenge the male gaze and objectification of women that is deep rooted in history paintings, especially the Renaissance and Baroque period.

“I often put myself firmly within the frame through self-portraiture and personal experiences.” About her work and process, she shares, “Within my images, I construct my story with layers, much like a painter. I start with the ‘ground’ of the image and begin to build. The historic images I transcribe are still relevant to contemporary society – little has changed. I like to take a painting from history and peel back the symbolism and surface beauty until the truth of the image is revealed, I then begin to change the narrative. There is a familiarity within the frame and a re-education of the story or myth that has been camouflaged by beauty for too long.”

See more of Melody’s work at melodythornton.co.uk