Artist Statement

Peering up into the trees on a sunny day, light filtering down, walking the streets of the East Village, observing the graffiti-covered stoops, passing an elderly man smoking under glowing deli store lights in the evening fog. Each experience, each tangible memory, from sound to writing to tactile beings; to me, this is art. Fall of my seventeenth year, and I experience the world in colorful vivacity, translating these feelings and concepts into my work. It’s easy to get lost in the flow of this fast paced world, so creating paintings and sculpture and textile works allows me slow down enough to tune into my perceived reality and find stability. I have found myself fascinated by the existential philosophies of Camus, Sartre and Nietszche and have become interested in creating art that explores, represents and advocates for current political and social issues.

One such political movement that has drawn me is The Riot Grrrl movement, a feminist punk music sub-genre, has allowed me to explore feminism and women’s oppression in my artwork. I’ve painted and written poetry and commentary on women I look up to in Riot Grrrl zines. Additionally, I’ve explored painting on materials such as dresses and doll parts. Using these less traditional materials to create my art has allowed me in turn to allow myself to become more versatile and open to breaking boundaries. I love dying my own fabric and working with textiles. I am often inspired by the natural world to create artwork and enjoy working hands on with earthen material. I hope to continue exploring new media and refine my technical skills, as well as be open to many possibilities that the art world holds.