Mexican-born artist Ana Teresa Fernandez is a really interesting painter and sculptor whose work explores the role of women. I'm no feminist but I think her art and the issues she addresses are interesting. 

This series of oil paintings below explores the stereotypical roles of women and their sexuality showing them performing menial tasks like laundry and sweeping dressed in heels and the quintessential "little black dress". She challenges the traditional image of Mexican women by dressing them in feminine attire associated with prosperity and the modern world. The black dress is also a possible reference to funeral attire.







She has also done a series of paintings addressing the transformative powers of water entitled "Ablution" where women are depicted jumping into the water with heels and dresses on which I suppose is addressing the concept of emotional and psychological cleansing. I think they're quite striking.









Her realistic style of painting also kind of reminds me of Jack Vettriano's work. There is a seductive beauty and romanticism about them too.

Her work has been exhibited internationally including in Mexico, San Francisco, New York and South Africa. If you want to find out more about here, this is link to her website:

http://anateresafernandez.com/