“Philodendron”
“Philodendron” (Oil on Canvas, 20x20” 2023) reflects on the bittersweet connotations of new beginnings within the lens of age. The predominant color of the piece - green - speaks to a sense of abundance and growth. Green is, in its essence, the color of life and new beginnings. My piece seeks to represent the passage of time, abundance, and the growth we experience within our limited time on earth. The Philodendron plant reflects this same concept of abundance, growth, and love whereas the inclusion of copper represents the way we "tarnish" over time. The copper leaf is intentionally left unsealed so that as the piece ages, so too does the materials used. The eventual change of this copper color lends to new beginnings in the interpretation of the piece itself and the changing seasons of life. The leaves of the philodendron wrap around the subject as they grow and age with him, expressing the season of life.
This series is a collection of oil paintings reflecting on childhood’s bright moments and the similarities and differences between childhood and adulthood to landmark my first solo gallery exhibition. These works explore the difficulties, discomforts, and pain that comes as we age. Furthermore, this series communicates the longing for blissful childlike ignorance and comfort during a transitional period of adulthood. This series closed the chapter on my youth and my work a young artist, to continue into a new phase of my artistic career and future. I worked through my past to begin my future by detailing intimate memories of my childhood and recreating them in a new way.
Growing Pains
the Divine Feminine
The most complex part of life is simply the human experience - what shapes us and what makes us human. This ranges from gender, religion, politics, existentialism, strife, love, heartbreak, trauma, and personal identity. This body of work in particular reflects on the symbology used to represent the masculine and the feminine throughout history, while blurring the line of gender stereotypes through the beautifully violent, complex, rageful, power and strength of the feminine. This is the divine feminine - the love, nurturing, compassion, renewal, and beauty of femininity as well as the violent, complex, and passionate power that is possible through femininity.
This body of work has been created over a period of three years and is defined by my interpretation of my feminine identity and my own identity as a woman over time. Each piece is tied to a specific emotion or moment in my life that intersects socially, politically, or religious with my own femininity.
This body of work has two main parts consisting of a series of relief prints and a series of oil paintings. The prints in this body of work focus on symbols of the masculine and feminine through a religious and historical lens. This is specifically shown through contrasting imagery - the sun and the moon, a dagger and a flower, a two-sided candle. Each piece seeks to dismantle and reflect on the ways in which femininity has been defined throughout history and within art itself.
In contrast, the oil paintings highlight specific stories of female rage and power, both historical and personally through portraiture. One painting portrays Judith, a woman who murdered a man to save her people. Another includes Marguerite, a woman who brought her abuser to justice and won back her family and home in medieval France. Finally, we see Lilith, the first woman created in the Bible, and the woman who gained incredible power by refusing to submit to Adam. These works ask questions regarding femininity: Why do some individuals see femininity as weak or soft?, How have religious interpretations of femininity hurt individuals?, Why do powerful women terrify the world?, How is feminine energy perhaps stronger than the masculine?
This body of work plays with the symmetry and duality of the masculine and the feminine - both equal in their importance and weight, but different in their perception. Furthermore, this series of work specifically focuses on the often-warranted violence and anger within the divine feminine and the potential beauty of said emotions.
“Immobilized”
“Immobilized” (Oil on Canvas, 16x20” 2021) reflects on the isolated feelings and emotions associated with coming into adulthood during a difficult global time. This piece in particular was created during a time of my life that was heavily impacted by the world around me: the pandemic, online school, political unrest, and mental health struggles. It left me feeling paralyzed by my circumstances with a complete lack of control over my life and my well being. The figure sits in an empty room, inside a fragile box while her head is encapsulated in a halo-like shape representing the attempts to protect myself during this difficult time. This emotion felt shared among my peers, and I wanted to create a piece to represent my personal experience in an attempt to connect with those in a similar position.
