La Petite Mort

'The pictures in this series are about my femininity and sexuality. I like the idea of exploring the taboos that I feel shouldn’t be. I am supposed to be sexy but not sexual, why is this? I am happy to admit that I enjoy sex. It is a natural part of life, yet women are often judged for their sexuality. My sexuality is mine and exists for me to share. Or not. Love yourself.' Summer May.

La Petite Mort (the small death) has taken on a rather more titillating meaning than it’s literal definition. Most people today know it as an idiom for “orgasm”. It is so much more than that.

La petite mort can refer to any release, especially those of the metaphysical or spiritual variety. It can also describe a short period of malaise, transcendence, or climax that comes with the metaphorical expenditure of your “life force”, which can be explained by the release of oxytocin in the brain after an event like an orgasm.

La petite mort, when used to describe negative experiences, is interchangeable with other idioms like “a part of [one’s self] dies inside”. When used to describe events akin to orgasm, la petite mort is synonymous with the idiom “a beautiful agony”.

Every picture I have made encapsulates the essence of my story. Whether it is intricate details, obscure abstracts, or expansive vistas, each piece is unique. The artistry in my archival, museum-quality prints is crafted to evoke emotion and capture moments in time.

This Limited Edition is available in two sizes, with a maximum of five prints plus up to two Artist Proofs.

The giclée prints are made on archival, museum-quality, cotton rag paper and can be supplied framed or rolled ready for your preferred framer.

Larger prints are sized to boldly dominate a wall. As I treat each scene individually, different pictures may have bespoke crop or form factors.

Foley Fine Art Prints are printed on either Ilford Prestige Galarie Smooth Cotton Rag or Hahnemühle Photo Rag heavyweight stock using state-of-the-art, museum-grade printers and archival inks. The fine art giclée prints, crafted with precision on a professional inkjet printer, are archival quality and guaranteed not to fade or bleed for up to 100 years, making them the industry standard in galleries and museums worldwide. The Paper Size allows for at least a 20mm white border around the image. The border may vary according to the picture's format. Contact me if you have any questions or special requests.

For Australian-based clients: If you choose one of the framing options, your giclée print will be dry-mounted to an acid-free 5 mm foam board using an archival adhesive film. It is then placed in a hand-crafted shadowbox frame made from FSC-certified Tasmanian Oak and protected by durable 3mm museum-grade plexiglass. The back of the frame is finished with framer’s tape and stainless steel hanging wire. A signed Certificate of Authenticity is supplied to be attached to the back of the frame.

‘I make photographs to hang on walls and be appreciated for lifetimes. The soft texture of these bright white papers is integral to how I want you to see and ‘feel’ my work.’

For transport reasons, square format prints can only be framed in the Medium (60x60cm) size. Larger prints should be taken to your local framer.

Free 14 - 21 days Australia-wide delivery via trackable courier. Fully insured for damages. 

I make it easy to shop confidently at my online gallery and be completely happy with the art, production values and delivery - seamless, secure online purchases with Visa and MasterCard through Stripe & PayPal and Apple Pay & Afterpay. I do not see, collect or store any card information.

Returns on damaged or lost artwork: In the unlikely event of receiving damaged artwork, don't hesitate to contact me within 48 hours with pictures. Once confirmed, I will endeavour to replace the edition free of cost. If I cannot replace the edition, I will arrange a refund.