Tossing & Turning, Diptych, Jennifer Shepit

Two white pillowcases depicting black ink prints of what looks like facial features and fingerprints. The prints are not precise or detailed but suggest motion or distortion. 

Title: Tossing & Turning, Diptych

Artist: Jennifer Shepit
Date: 2026
Medium/Materials: Printmaking, fiber arts
Dimension: 74 cm x 50 cm
Form/Genre: Print

Key Terms/Subject/Tags: Exhaustion; Sleep/Insomnia; Chronic pain;

Artist Statement:

Tossing & Turning, Diptych is part of an ongoing series called I've Been Dreaming of a Deep and Dreamless Sleep. In this series, I have been experimenting with a variety of media, including print media, oil paint, graphite, charcoal, and mixed media. This series has come from the lived experience of ongoing exhaustion and sleep disruption due mostly to chronic pain. When asked how I feel, I will often jokingly say, "At least I'm not as tired as I will be tomorrow!" Those with chronic conditions will likely understand that there is a fine balance between honesty and coming across as negative, so we perform for others. 

At night, I use from 4 to 7 pillows to try to keep myself comfortable, depending on my pain. I toss and turn, and in the morning, when I decide to finally give up and get up, I turn around and see the tangled record of my time spent chasing rest. Tonight I will try again. 

Cultural Context / Story Behind the Work:

This piece responds to years of sleep disruption and exhaustion due to living with chronic pain. 

Rights for this Image:

This digital image is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. You are free to share it for non-commercial purposes, as long as you credit the artist.

Learn More:

Instagram: @jennifershepitart