Kansas Smeaton, a New Zealand artist based in Sydney, consistently interrogates the complex relationships between power, gender, and sexuality. Through traditional artistic techniques such as symbolism, portraiture, and still life, her paintings challenge outdated Christian conceptions of sexuality and critique the notion of gender binarity. Smeaton chooses subjects from her community — feminists, LGBTI members, sex workers — to depict not victims, but individuals asserting their bodily autonomy and eroticism.

Her work stands as a powerful commentary on the dynamics of control and identity, emphasizing the strength and agency of those often marginalized by mainstream narratives. By integrating these themes into her art, Smeaton creates pieces that are both visually striking and socially poignant, encouraging viewers to rethink and question prevailing societal norms.