Everything About Her was Excotic - By Lisa Oxley - Curated Collective Creator 2025

This mixed-media layout is a stunning fusion of ornate vintage elegance and contemporary surrealism, centering on identity, mystique, and feminine beauty. Anchored by a single, unforgettable portrait and surrounded by botanical specimens and Victorian motifs, the piece evokes a sense of curated wonder and quiet strength.

Key Visual Elements

1. Central Portrait – The Exotic Muse

The focal image features a woman in ethereal blue — strikingly adorned with dramatic eye makeup, floral headpieces, and a tulle-like collar. The tone is regal, melancholic, and commanding.

   •   Her icy gaze and stylized appearance create a sense of distance and mystery.

   •   The overall colour tone of the portrait blends perfectly with the surrounding blue hues, making her feel embedded in the environment.

2. Butterfly Specimens & Ephemera

Surrounding the portrait are several cut-out butterflies, in soft blues, creams, and silvery greys — giving the sense of a vintage entomology plate or specimen wall.

   •   These butterflies symbolize transformation, fragility, and collection, reinforcing the “private collection” theme.

   •   Tags and labels such as “Private Collection Specimens” and vintage handwritten numbers enhance the natural history archive aesthetic.

3. Delft-Style Damask Wallpaper Background

The rich blue-and-white floral patterning mimics vintage ceramic or porcelain designs (think Delftware or chinoiserie) and adds a sophisticated, baroque quality to the piece.

   •   This background reinforces the sense of ornament, tradition, and heritage.

   •   The repetition of blues across both portrait and backdrop creates visual unity.

4. Metal Hardware Corners

Antique bronze photo corners frame the journal edge, further enhancing the cabinet-of-curiosity feel. These add weight, dimension, and texture — grounding the delicacy of the butterflies.

5. Caption – Emotional Anchor

The simple caption beneath the portrait reads:

“Everything about her was exotic.”

This line offers a poetic yet complex frame — suggesting a perspective of admiration, objectification, or intrigue, leaving space for viewer interpretation.

Mood & Message

This piece walks the line between beauty and documentation, as if the subject is both admired and studied — exoticized and preserved. It speaks to themes of:

   •   Feminine mystique

   •   Preservation vs. presence

   •   Beauty as rarity

   •   Strength in solitude

Perfect For:

   •   Art journaling with a botanical, vintage, or identity-based theme

   •   Mixed media lovers exploring portraiture and pattern interplay

   •   Inspiration for curating personal pages around “collections” of self or memory

   •   Artists interested in combining modern faces with vintage formats