Untitled (from the series I Need a Hero)

In this work, Butt weaves together many different motifs to create a complex visual image—figures are shown in a portal that lies at the center of a red, orange, and black grid. The elements of the painting suggest multiple cultural influences: a dragon that seems to be East Asian in style, the flatter style of depicting figure reminiscent of Persian manuscripts, the grid drawn in the background, echoing artists such as Agnes Martin. In the center, Butt depicts herself three times, each depiction preforming a different action. This works suggests an identity and understanding that goes beyond one culture. Rather, international influences come together to form a multidimensional understanding of the self.