Dominique Birdsong
Tenderness Breathing Besides Unease, 2026
plaster, acrylic mirror, and acrylic paint
22 × 19 × 2 inches
$ 1,500
C-lective Curator’s Cut:
Tenderness Breathing Beside Unease explores the delicate space between vulnerability and growth, where tenderness can exist alongside uncertainty. In this new body of work, Dominique Birdsong turns her signature mirrors inward, carving into the reflective surface to reveal a message held within the plaster beneath. The title appears both painted on the mirror and carved into its foundation, creating a quiet dialogue between what is visible and what lies beneath. Lighter and more experimental in spirit, the work reflects Dominique’s evolving relationship with identity and self-discovery, embracing the possibility of finding joy and softness without needing to resolve every uncertainty. The mirror invites the viewer into the work while also asking us to confront our own reflections, making the experience both intimate and deeply personal. A gentle reminder that tenderness can take root even in the presence of unease.
We Love Dominique. She is a Los Angeles–born visual artist based in San Francisco whose work explores vulnerability and emotional depth through the language of textiles. By engaging tactile materials, she creates a powerful dialogue between comfort and pain, drawing viewers in with curiosity and inviting them to linger in thoughtful reflection.
Dominique Birdsong
“Through [soft materials]—yarn, fabric, poly fiber fill—I construct a safe space in which to share my vulnerabilities, inviting the viewer to engage with the intricate layers of my emotional landscape.”
-
Bachelor of Arts from Humboldt State University
Masters of Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute
-
Black Rock City Honoraria Grant Recipient, presenting a new installation titled Celestial Intertwinement at Burning Man (2025)
Recipient of the Murphy & Cadogan Contemporary Art Award from SOMArts/San Francisco Foundation (2020), highlighted as a promising emerging artist in the Bay Area
Her work is poetic, melancholic, and often confronts the questions we avoid: Who are we? What is the weight of existence? Where does beauty live in a chaotic world?
A cornerstone of her practice is her poetic manifesto titled “ANGST”, which weaves together personal reflection with broader artistic and existential themes. In it, she situates herself among dreamers, outsiders, and seekers: those who dwell in the in-between spaces and create from the unknown.
Her work invites viewers to pause, reflect, and embrace both the darkness and tenderness that define the human experience.
Interview with the artist