“Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.” -D.W. Winnicott.
"Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days."-Flannery O'Connor
Biography
The foundation of my interdisciplinary work lies in a stark contrast of childhood influences: the fairy tales read to me by my mother, and the gritty reality of accompanying my detective father to courthouses, jails, and crime scenes. While observing him document mug shots and forensic evidence, I learned the fundamentals of photography and darkroom processing. These early experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with the intersection of narrative and human darkness.
As a painter and photographer, I exhibit my work internationally. I also integrate my creative practice with a dedication to human services, having worked as an art therapist and educator in New York City, Los Angeles, and Portland.
Statement
I am a figurative painter and photographer. My work is primarily thematic and, in photography, series format. My thinking is influenced and shaped by cinema, psychoanalysis, and Catholicism. I am interested in the fundamental theme of connection-how we relate to our environment, to each other, to ourselves, and to our histories. I am fascinated by how our earliest fears and desires are forged in childhood, continuously shaping how we navigate the adult world. My approach to painting is primarily visceral and instinctive. I tend to turn my logical thinking brain off when I am painting and trust my unconscious processes. Conversely, my approach to photography is more cerebral and measured. Despite this, many commonalities exist between them. Moreover, I am drawn to the internal dynamics between the abstract elements of painting and photography, uncovering how they interact with one another and within the broader language of visual communication.
