My work grows out of my belief that violence and creativity are opposites. Violence, fueled by the past, always seeks to preserve the status quo, while creativity, by its very nature, uses the present to build the future.

I commit to one creative act every day as a way to stay emotionally grounded and connected to my community. I confront violence by making artworks that acknowledge violence’s power while being crucibles of beauty and serenity.

The antique doll in my Selfie paintings has been my muse for almost twenty years. It’s been my favorite subject as I’ve developed my oil painting technique, and clarified my thoughts about self-worth and personal agency.

At the heart of my practice is my desire to live the most vivid life possible, on my own terms. The Selfies radiate complex psychological states, and allude to both traditional self-portraits, and omnipresent meticulously curated digital images. The objects in the paintings are as fully embodied as the doll, because every single thing in the world matters.