Long before written history, the female body was already being represented as a symbol of creation, fertility, and abundance. During the Paleolithic period, prehistoric figurines known as the Venuses emphasized features associated with pregnancy, nourishment, and the ability to generate life.
The Vulva Collection was born from a simple observation: while every face is naturally accepted as unique, the same is rarely true for the vulva. Despite being one of the most ancient symbols of life, creation, and femininity, it is still surrounded by stereotypes, silence, embarrassment, and unrealistic standards.
No two women are identical, and no two vulvas are identical. The collection celebrates this diversity, challenging the notion that there is a single standard of beauty or a "correct" way to look. Each artwork becomes a reminder that difference is not a flaw to be corrected, but a reality to be acknowledged and respected
The materials themselves play an important role in this narrative. Raw plaster, natural clay, visible brushstrokes, textured surfaces, cracks, marks, and imperfections are intentionally preserved rather than concealed. These elements reflect the individuality of the bodies they represent. Just as people are shaped by experience, time, and circumstance, the artworks retain traces of their own making.
Scattered across medieval churches and stone buildings in Ireland and Britain, Sheela-na-gig figures depict women displaying exaggerated vulvas. Their exact meaning remains uncertain, and historians continue to debate whether they were symbols of fertility, protection, warning, or spiritual power.
Venus of Kostenki 1 (c. 24,500–21,500 BP). Paleolithic female figurine discovered near Kostenki, Russia. - Photo: Merkel und Weiss (2017), via Don's Maps.
Etymology: The word "figa" derives from the Latin "fica", meaning fig (the fruit). Since antiquity, the fig has been symbolically associated with the female genitals due to its shape and its connections to fertility, sexuality, and abundance. The Italian word figa evolved from the Latin fica.
A small Roman amulet preserving a gesture that survived across centuries, cultures, and beliefs.
The meaning of the vulva has never been fixed. Across history, its representation has reflected different beliefs, values, and attitudes toward the female body.
Throughout history, the vulva has been viewed in remarkably different ways. In prehistoric cultures, it was often associated with fertility, creation, and the continuation of life. In later periods, it could also function as a protective or sacred symbol, appearing in rituals, amulets, and folk traditions.
Christ's Side Wound in medieval illuminated manuscripts, 14th–15th centuries. Composite image from various sources.
Baubo figurine, Hellenistic period (c. 3rd–2nd century BCE)
Yoni-Lingam, Hindu sacred sculpture
The Black Madonna of Tindari, Sicily, Italy
Isis, ancient Egypt
For centuries, representations of the vulva were often hidden, censored, or transformed into idealized images of the female body. During the twentieth century, however, many artists began to place female anatomy back at the center of artistic exploration, challenging long-established conventions.
Grey Lines with Black, Blue and Yellow, c. 1923. Georgia O'Keeffe
The Dinner Party, 1974–79. Judy Chicago
Interior Scroll, performance, 1975. Carolee Schneemann. Photo: Anthony McCal
The Great Wall of Vulva, 2006–2011. Jamie McCartney.
Not every artist who explores femininity chooses to represent the vulva directly. Throughout modern and contemporary art, many artists have addressed themes such as the female body, sexuality, motherhood, identity, desire, memory, and transformation through symbols, metaphors, and personal narratives rather than explicit anatomy.
Femme Maison, 1947. Louise Bourgeois
Hon – A Cathedral, 1966. Niki de Saint Phalle
Untitled (from the Silueta Series), 1973–1980. Ana Mendieta
Vulva, 1966. Mari Chordà.
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