FOMO
A reflection on disconnection and the anxiety of chasing external validation.
This painting captures the tension between celebration and distraction, exploring the fear of missing out and its impact on personal fulfillment.
FOMO portrays a young woman at her birthday party, surrounded by vibrant balloons, a glowing cake, and festive streamers. Despite the celebratory scene, she is engrossed in her phone, her expression tinged with distraction and unease.
This painting examines the pervasive fear of missing out, highlighting how modern technology and societal pressures often overshadow the ability to find joy in the present. The vibrant party setting contrasts sharply with her internal disconnection, underscoring the themes of anxiety and the pursuit of external validation.
Through its juxtaposition of celebration and unease, FOMO invites viewers to reflect on their relationship with technology and the moments they may have missed while chasing something beyond their reach.
Oil and mixed media on canvas
48″ x 48″
The Full Story Doesn’t Exist: Structural Omission in Contemporary Realism
Deborah Scott’s paintings begin with real conversations—personal narratives offered in moments of trust. But the works resist the illusion of full understanding. Rather than completing the story, each piece reveals its limits: what can be seen, and what cannot.
Rendered with classical precision and intentionally interrupted, these images reflect Scott’s framework of Structural Omission—a practice that refuses closure and challenges the viewer’s desire for resolution. The absences aren’t decorative; they’re structural. What’s missing was never meant to be filled in.
In an era of instant answers and polished certainty, Scott’s realism holds space for complexity, fracture, and the unknown.