Artist Statement

My work focuses on interrogating and breaking down the “invisible walls” that act as mental restrictions to fully experiencing and filling a meaningful space in the world. Oil paint and mixed mediums like embroidery, organic material, beading, and collage can transform my innermost reflections, worries, and desires into an image with weight and vitality.

Studying the hypnotic patterns and gestural movements found in nature, collecting antique and found objects, art historical research, and using portraiture and still-life paintings to navigate self-image and close relationships are central to my artistic inspiration. Photographing painting references and working from life keep my compositions fluid and capture the unique character of my subjects. I’m interested in obscuring the meaning of familiar imagery from art historical sources, family photo albums, and magazines collaged into a new context; combining the tactile quality of mixed media materials onto a painting’s smooth surface to form multi-sensory depth is a current exploration in my process.

Recurring themes in my work include autobiographical symbolism through plants and animals, food and the inevitability of decay, our sentimental attachment to material objects, and the tradition of textiles and American folk arts/crafts as expressions of empowerment. I see these themes as a lens through which I can examine my experiences of unstable self-image, queerness, and the lasting effects of complex trauma. Overall, my art is a binding thread of personal connection that weaves intimate memories into universal sensations like hunger, nourishment, bittersweet nostalgia, and the innate longing to be understood.