Paint:
I make mixed media paintings that instigate the viewers notions of the physical work as well as the content. When crafting a painting it is important to me that it function as more than a static image; my paintings often double as three-dimensional objects. My imagery is selected for its symbolic value and compiled to allow viewers to build a narrative. I choose imagery that will allude to current events, societal conventions, and recognized iconography. When such information is arranged together we want form a narrative. The value of this practice is that it allows viewers, as well as myself, to arrive at a perspective which may have otherwise remained inaccessible. I believe an artwork must also function as a document of the art making process. A viewer should be able to follow my hand across the surface and retrace my motion.
Jewelry:
From the Reliquary is an ongoing experiment in decoration and age. My work is made to look like it’s been excavated from another time. While I’m interested in jewelry and metalwork as an opportunity to focus only on aesthetics, I think I also take some idealogical liberties in my work. I often work in base metals like copper and brass. As the artist, this requires me to create the value, rather than rely on the precious materials to offer their worth. I work in organic shapes and create textures using distressed tools to form jewelry designs that feel both contemporary and authentic.