Dysphoria

Dysphoria is a visceral collection of cast metal sculptures that confronts the raw realities of living with borderline personality disorder and trauma. Through the permanence and weight of metal, Julie Slattery transforms internal struggle into tangible form, blending fragility and strength, pain and resilience, chaos and control.

This body of work serves as both a personal excavation and a healing journey. In a world where mental health is often dismissed or ignored, Dysphoria stands as an act of reclamation. The sculptures reflect not only the artist’s journey through mental illness but also the systemic failures of a healthcare system that undervalues psychological care especially for women navigating complex emotional realities.

At the intersection of feminism and mental health, Slattery’s work exposes how societal expectations of femininity; composure, selflessness, and beauty, conflict with the messy truth of emotional survival. Each cast piece bears the marks of both suffering and healing, embodying the dualities of vulnerability and empowerment.

Through therapy, meditation, and self-care, Slattery reclaims agency over her narrative. Dysphoria is not only an exploration of despair, but also a meditation on recovery, deliberate molding of the self from the molten chaos of pain.

Ultimately, Dysphoria invites viewers to witness what is often hidden: the alchemy of trauma into art, and the profound beauty in the act of becoming whole.