Project 06 / 15

Stop

My refusal to fit expectations, painted straight onto a metal stop sign.
Year
2026
Materials
Mixed media on an old traffic sign
Dimensions
60 cm × 60 cm
Field
found object · acrylic · street
Stop by Defne Celet, final work
Final workMixed media on an old traffic sign
About
this work

In this project, I expressed my refusal to fit societal expectations. By portraying myself sitting in my messy room with a half-done face mask, I aimed to create an intentionally raw and unconventional scene for the viewer. My research for this piece began with an earlier drawing from my sketchbook, which I then decided to translate onto a metal stop sign to visually show both nonconformity and street style. The stop sign symbolizes boundaries and the idea of being "out there." Material-wise, I combined acrylic paint and acrylic markers; both are mediums I am deeply comfortable with, allowing me to work freely and expressively on the metal surface. Ultimately, these layers came together to create a powerful statement against rigid standards.

Research + process

How it was made

The sketchbook drawing it began with
The sketchbook drawing it began with
Reference
Reference
Research on the sign
Research on the sign
Collage study
Collage study
Process
Process
Process
Process

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