My current body of work focuses on constructing an internal ecosystem through the use of imaginary realms, objects, and spaces to “materialize” questions related to personal autonomy and psychological freedom. Feelings of loss, nihilism, and isolation arising from contemporary life are taken, consolidated, and reconstructed into decorated sets and tokens, in an attempt to display the predatory nature of the world in which the viewer lives.

To create these objects in my imagined space, I exaggerate the recognizable “symbols” of everyday life to evoke a sense of disconnection grounded in reality. I am drawn to compositions, interiors, and structural forms that evoke reactions similar to those felt in dreams. As in dreams, fantastic, confusing (verging on upsetting) atmospheres are balanced by the somewhat recognizable; signs and symbols that are familiar, yet reconfigured. I want to camouflage existential questions in a well-realized space.

Inspiration is gained through exposure to different disciplines–other visual arts, literature, music, or philosophy–which allows me to face creative blocks with curiosity. Through media and lived experience, I  research areas of personal artistic interest and keep meticulous notes for future examination. I often work on multiple pieces simultaneously to give myself variety, facilitating cohesion in theme and quality rather than working on pieces chronologically. A single piece is experimented upon until visual fatigue sets in, and later developed once a mild distance from my previous attempt is achieved. As primarily a painter, I use acrylic paint for its quick drying time and malleable qualities. This plasticity allows for intuitive decisions during application. Additionally, the physical scale and size of a piece is something I enjoy having control over (through the construction of my own canvas, if possible). A work’s size and presentation is a physical acknowledgement of the human viewer. Interesting visual information paired with a layered narrative encourages participation and contemplation from the viewing party, allowing them to build an emotional relationship with the artwork in question.