Artist Statement

I use pattern, shadow, and the figure (both implied and depicted) to examine the psychological narrative of (dis)connection.

My art consists of mixed media drawings and paintings. I paint in acrylic, oil, and encaustic. With layers of color and imagery, my art reflects the accumulation of experience and knowledge to inform my seeking of the answers to my questions.
I appreciate working with the principle of pattern as a relationship between the parts with rhythm, movement, and space. This fascination is directly influenced by my work as an art educator. Pattern recognition is foundational in early education; and remains so in navigating everyday life. Recognizing patterns of behavior is essential to creating meaningful change.

My early experiences —as a nomadic military child and as a young Army soldier (being socialized within the military industrial complex) and as a bisexual navigating identity—inform my exploration of the psychological shadow in personal and societal relationships. In my work, I contemplate social issues through a critical and personal lens. The political is personal; the personal is universal. These issues extend beyond me. My artistic process also cultivates confidence and flexibility, allowing ambiguity and the unresolved to sit within my work.

I am seeking the answers to these questions through shadow work. With the shadow, I can explore the (dis) connection felt by so many within contemporary society. The shadow of a human figure implies a presence of an other which is out of reach. The shadows cast on the ground create an effect where the viewer is looking down. We are not engaged in the world around us, but within our individual experiences. I create paintings of relationships where we are alone, together.