Ideas that I tend to circulate usually involve the body, control, and a sense of self. I have experiences that almost entirely lay in a lack of control of my body, mind, and self. I experience a disconnect between the three that is incredibly disorienting and confusing. My paintings have been an attempt to regain control and begin to understand the nuances of my experiences and how I live within my own body. My work deals with body image and internalized trauma. My color palette is incredibly high-key and high contrast, alarming the viewer. The figure is important to me, as it is the vessel closest to the reality of my physical body. The goal of my work is to find myself and feel more connected to the body I have been given. I am trying to communicate the complicated nature of one’s relationship with themself. I am exploring the anxiety of existence. I am calling it a pursuit of self.

I have always taken great inspiration from the Fauvists. I have the same love for color and visual chaos. The wild beast that is Fauvism will always have an important place in my process. Some specific contemporary names I look to are Nicole Eisenmann, Alice Neel, Hope Gangloff, Jennifer Packer, and Susanna Coffey. My work has a rough surface quality like that of Jennifer Packer. My portraits are uncomfortable and explore my relationship with myself, similar to the work of Susanna Coffey. My work is blunt and forces one to be introspective, similar to Nicole Eisenmann. My color palette is bright and saturated like that of Hope Gangloff. I capture the character of a person beyond surface appearance similar to that of Alice Neel. Everyone I take inspiration from reminds me to continue to push the envelope in my exploration of self.

It is a very human experience to want to form a better relationship with oneself. In that way my work can be a relatable experience for anyone who encounters it. In an ideal world I would like anyone who interacts with my work to understand the confusion and disorientation that can come with trying to find a sense of self. In the audience’s interaction with my paintings, I want my emotions to extend beyond the canvas.

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