The images reference draped statues from the Renaissance, nuns in habits, women wearing the burqa, the Virgin Mary, priests' robes, judges’ robes and ancient Greek and Roman dress Photograph: Patty Carroll
"This series began when the war with Iraq was building," says Patty Carroll. "I think about the women who encounter wars, internal conflicts, domestic abuse and other threats, and laugh at myself and other women when we lose perspective and become possessed by our material goods" Photograph: Patty Carroll
“[My pictures] are also about the feeling many women have that their home has to be ‘just right’” Photograph: Patty Carroll
“I do like to infuse some humour into my work,” says Carroll Photograph: Patty Carroll
"This project began while living in England, where my identity was determined by my domestic position. I found that in a more traditional culture than the United States, one’s domestic status often eclipses one’s professional or personal sense of self" Photograph: Patty Carroll
"I think of them as portraits, because some women like very flowery, fussy things, and other women like very stark, modern things, so in a way they're like portraits of people that you know even though you don't see their faces" Photograph: Patty Carroll
"The whole point is that the person in the drapes is anonymous – it could be anyone" Photograph: Patty Carroll
