I didn’t grow up with open conversations about sex, sensuality, or autonomy over my body and desires; maybe you didn’t either. Like so many of us, I pieced together my understanding of sexuality through TV, music, art, and the bold creatives who weren’t afraid to challenge the rules. That said, let’s be honest… not all of those influences were exactly helpful. Some sparked empowerment, others reinforced shame, but they all shaped our ideas about what sex should look like.
I consider myself fortunate to have taken the route I did in my early years of education, one that constantly encouraged me to challenge the world around me. Yep, I was that art kid. Studying in a creative space for over 5 years gave me the tools to explore identity, expression, and, eventually, my sexuality through art and curiosity. Looking back, those early years of unapologetic self-expression, free from rigid expectations, shaped everything. It taught me to question everything — a blessing and a curse — but ultimately, it’s what led me here: exploring ways to help people reconnect with their bodies, their desires, and their joy beyond the rules society tries to set.
I not only have my degree to thank for this, but also the women I spent hours exploring in books and galleries, women who showed me the way when it comes to being unapologetically bold, brave, and unique in their self-expression. These artists gave me permission to explore my sexuality, not as something shameful or hidden, but as something powerful, playful, and worth celebrating.
Here are the four artists who helped me rewrite my relationship with sexual expression and identity, and might do the same for you.
Ana Mendieta
Ana Mendieta’s work was the first time I saw the body, particularly the female body, portrayed as part of nature and, even more so, as a means to explore identity, struggle, and loss. Her Silueta series, where she imprinted her body into landscapes, has stayed with me for years and remains one of my favourite pieces of art to date. While her work explores identity, race, gender, age, and class, it has shown me that these themes can be deeply grounding and spiritual and that returning to one’s roots can hold significant power in how we explore self-expression and identity as women.
Zanele Muholi
Zanele Muholi’s photography changed everything I thought I knew about visibility and vulnerability. Their portraits of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals challenged me to rethink how society limits who gets to be seen, desired, or celebrated in this world. Muholi’s work reminded me that sexual expression isn’t just about performance; it’s political, personal, and necessary. Their boldness in capturing queerness and its beauty inspired me to explore sexuality and identity beyond my own and reminds me daily (with their artwork hanging on my wall) to challenge stereotypes and be mindful of those who don’t get to live authentically because of discrimination and oppression.
Are you a sensual
professional?
Join hundreds of BDSM practitioners, content creators, erotic writers, artists, coaches, masseurs, muses and more on Sensuali
Marina Abramović
Marina Abramović taught me the art of discomfort and how closely it’s tied to desire, boundaries, and power. Watching her performances made me confront how often we dissociate from our bodies or avoid the vulnerability that comes with being fully present. Abramović’s work made me realise that sexual expression isn’t just about the pleasurable parts; it’s also about pushing edges, understanding limits, and reclaiming agency over your body, even when it makes people uncomfortable. My favourite performance, ‘Imponderabilia’, where two performers, both completely nude, stand in a doorway restricting guests to squeezing between them to pass, will forever stay in my memory. It stands as a reminder that we, as humans, are not only curious but there is a significant link between connection and discomfort as we navigate life.
Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman made me question everything about identity, performance, and how we ‘present’ ourselves to the world, especially as women. Her self-portraits, which she has been taking since the 1970s, playing with character, made me realise how much femininity, sexuality, and desirability are shaped by societal expectations. Through her work, I discovered the freedom to explore different versions of myself without having to commit to one rigid identity and, most importantly, to have fun with it. Sometimes life is multifaceted, and sometimes even a performance, but you get to choose the script and the costume!
Final Thoughts…
These four artists didn’t just change how I saw the world at such a young age; they changed how I saw myself and taught me to challenge what is expected of me as a woman. They reminded me that sexuality is art, protest, healing, and a celebration all wrapped into one, and most importantly, there’s no single ‘right’ way to express it. But what you shouldn’t do is put it in a box. Be brave, be expressive and challenge everything you ever learnt about sex and sexuality.
Explore Artists and Creative people on Sensuali today!
April Maria
April Maria is a qualified sex educator, sex and relationships coach and training psychosexual and relationships therapist. For the last four years, April has been working in the field of sex education, sex tech and pleasure, endometriosis awareness and helping others when it comes to sexual wellness, intimacy, dating and relationships.
