Secret Art Histories

What lies behind the mysterious gaze of the idealized beauty in the gilded frame? The portrait of the 19th century lady hanging on a museum wall reveals none of her secrets, fantasies or memories. So I select parts of museum paintings to photograph, then transform and weave fragments of various paintings together to create a fictional backstory. I like to think there is alchemy involved in the unification of the various parts into a photomontage that offers an alternative narrative. The art historical remix illustrates a story of struggle, fear, pleasure, pain, desire, or loss that simmers below the serene surface of the painted lady.