more than a body

"We are the person inside our bodies; we are not our bodies. I want observers to feel observed so they can put themselves in these women's shoes." — Maura Trice

“More Than a Body” is a transformative fine art exhibition by Italian-born, North Carolina-based artist and muralist Maura Trice. This powerful project serves as an artistic discourse around self-love, acceptance, and a direct challenge to society's preoccupation with hyper-focusing on women's physical appearances.

By dismantling superficial beauty standards tied to aging, weight, and perfection, the exhibition creates a space dedicated entirely to female autonomy, vulnerability, and complex interiority.

At its core, "More Than a Body" is a collaborative celebration of the human spirit. To bring this vision to life, Trice worked closely with 10 local women from the Sandhills and Fayetteville communities, handing them complete agency over how they wished to be perceived.

Each participant chose their own clothing, styling, and expression, ensuring that the resulting art was a reflection of true selfhood rather than an external expectation.

The exhibition masterfully bridges the gap between the physical and the psychological through a unique multi-disciplinary approach:

• Fine Art Photography meets Digital Art: Trice captures raw, striking portrait photography and layers it with evocative digital art elements. These symbolic layers visually channel each woman's internal landscape—their distinct dreams, failures, expectations, and triumphs.
• Raw Personal Narratives: No portrait stands alone. Each piece is paired with the subject's own unfiltered words and lived experiences, creating an intimate dialogue with the viewer.
• The Intentional Feedback Loop: The exhibition is structured to make observers feel observed. By presenting these women as complex symbols of the lives they have lived rather than just physical objects, Trice invites viewers to practice deeper self-compassion and re-examine how they look at the world around them.