Artist Statement
My interest in painting lies with the psychological qualities of the images I make. I use the figure to create characters with imagined complexities and layers. I think about private motivations, buried damage, or personal entanglements - and it’s those kinds of complexities that make me think about what these characters might be up against and how are they going to navigate the worlds I created for them.
I often use imagery that is ambiguous or distorted because it represents complexity and interest for me and, in part, it is a language that I personally identify with. I learned to understand things through a visual filter growing up - the result of personal challenges that led me to become a keen observer. I learned how shadow shapes were substantial and, later, how they could be used as building blocks for invented people and invented spaces. This completely influences the way I approach art making.
While I find strangeness and psychological intrigue compelling, I keep in mind they are really a stand-in for thinking about experiences, creating and solving problems, and understanding the drive to contribute and be relevant.
