Serena McCarthy

Trashed

Inspired by: Evelyn Rydz, Gulf Pile

acrylic on canvas

40″ x 24″

2021

As a society we are so quick to see the beauty in the natural world but many times end up glazing over the real tragedies occurring on our Earth. At first glance, this piece appears to depict the beauty of our oceans, but upon further inspection, the beauty is overwhelmed by trash and pollution. If society continues to overlook the issue at hand, plastic bags will become the new jellyfish.

@serenamccarthy_ @studioxserena

Serena McCarthy

College of the Holy Cross, 2025, Biology, Studio Art

Trashed 2: The Human Impact

magazines, acrylic and mixed media on wood panel

11” x 16”

2023

Trashed 2 explores the atrocities of ocean pollution in today’s society. This piece consists of layers and layers of collage, peeled back and built back up to create a final product. This metaphorically represents the footprint humans leave on the Earth, no matter how hard we try to undo the damage to our world, the imprint of what has been done remains forever. The edges of the collage are filled with images of the human impact, where the areas peeled back show the beautiful ocean we are destroying.

@studioxserena

Serena McCarthy

College of the Holy Cross, 2025, Biology and Studio Art

Modern Masculinity

acrylic and oil paint on canvas

40″ x 30″

2021

My works mostly revolve around forms of identity, and in “Modern Masculinity”, I wanted to question the societal expectations for what it means to be “a man”. The black and white faceless figure allows the emphasis of the piece to be on the ballgown rather than the identity of the person who is wearing it. If we can appreciate a dress for its beauty, why should one’s perspective of that change based on the body occupying that space?

Serena McCarthy

College of the Holy Cross, 2025, Biology & Studio Art

Royalty

charcoal and gouache on paper

30.5″ x 42″

2022

This piece sparks a conversation about lgbtq+ representation in traditionally royal portraiture. To create a contrast between old techniques and new representation, I used a traditional material, charcoal, and portrayed a queer couple posed in the likeness of 18th century portraiture.The colors of the background are jewel tones to further allude to the idea of royalty and power.