Artist Statement

This body of work includes two large scale paintings that combine collage and traditional oil painting techniques to depict intimate biographical portraits of myself, my friends, and my partner. My work is deeply autobiographic, with themes of memory and nostalgia at its core. Each painting depicts my own mundane experiences, but with the intention of celebrating the beauty found in ordinary moments. Through collages that merge multiple spaces into one image, I create images that often don’t make sense in the real world. A McDonald’s table in the middle of the street, or a figure in a dining room chair on the sidewalk. I manipulate these sources to evoke the natural imperfection of memory while being true to the feeling it holds. 

The vibrant colors and surreal perspectives in my paintings evoke a sense of heightened reality. Influenced by contemporary artists like Doron Langberg, I employ gestural strokes and bold colors to create dynamic compositions. My process involves layering paint over collage materials, such as old sketchbooks and magazine clippings, creating texture and depth to the artwork.

The body’s relationship to the space it inhabits is a central idea within the paintings. The work highlights the importance of creating safe spaces and communities especially in such a busy place like New York City. Historically, women and queer people have had to create their own spaces and sources of happiness. These works depict the corner of New York I have carved out for myself. The people I surround myself with and the landscapes we inhabit are my greatest sources of inspiration and joy.