The Audacity of Joy
5 × 7 inches · Acrylic on paper
Painted on Christmas while away in Colorado, The Audacity of Joy captures a moment of unfiltered delight. Featuring an opossum mid-laugh, this small-scale work celebrates humor, resilience, and the often-overlooked beauty of unlikely creatures. Opossums—quiet caretakers of their ecosystems—serve here as symbols of survival, adaptability, and unapologetic existence.
This painting marks the first piece in an ongoing series of 5 × 7 inch works focused on funny animals and expressive character. Though intimate in size, the piece carries the same intentional geometry, vibrant color relationships, and emotional storytelling found throughout Darcy Borg’s larger works.
The Audacity of Joy is a reminder that joy does not need permission—and that even the most underestimated beings can embody it fully.