The transformation of mass published magazine photographs into oil paintings draws a parallel

between classic paintings featuring nude women and the pop culture images we see today.

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Why is it that when a woman posts a nude picture of herself on social media, it is greeted with extreme blowback and outcry, but if you walk into any art gallery and view paintings of naked women, it is admired and appreciated?  This is the question that is being explored with Oily.  Oily provides a commentary on the double standard of women posing naked in photographs versus posing naked for paintings.  The series of portraits that were created depict three female celebrities for whom displaying their bodies has been both controversial and empowering. Oily brings to light the ridiculous notion that the only way to make a photograph change from being criticized to admired is to turn it into a painting.