monoprint mounted on panel

9.5”L x 7.5”W x 1.5”D

2026

My relationship with Barbie has always been positive. I was never concerned nor affected by her “unrealistic beauty standards.” From a very young age my sister and I had Barbies but more importantly we had her accessories. These accessories included her sports car, her horse, her mobile home, her apartment, her McDonalds, her ice cream truck; not to mention all the clothes, shoes, and purses. 

My mom raised us to understand Barbie was a powerful woman, worthy of respect because she was independent, strong, and self-sufficient. We understood she had created her own life and nothing was given to her. That being said, Ken was an afterthought. His role was tertiary, at best. When we questioned his relationship to Barbie my mom said, “Think of him as an accessory. If he makes Barbie look good and feel good, he can stick around, but as soon as he doesn’t, he gets left behind.”