As many artists might relate to, it’s been very difficult to pin down exactly what my art is, why I do it and how it all fits together. At a basic level, I want to try everything, I want to experiment, I want to find new ways to do things. It wasn’t until very recently that I realized that there was something at a very deep level tying it all together. It went back to a place that many things in my life have been as of late, the work of JRR Tolkein. When I was ten years old, for reasons I can’t fully remember, I decided to read “The Hobbit.” There were many parts of that book that have since impacted my life but there was one quote in particular, the last words of a dying king to his friend who had taught him so much, “If more of us valued home above gold, this world would be a merrier place.”

It’s something that has continued to resonate in so much of my life, in this current day and age of late stage capitalism we find ourselves in, this feeling of home that The Shire represents seems more and more like a fantasy than it should. It’s not the dragons or the orcs or the magical swords, it’s living among people who care for each other, in a place where food and joy is plentiful and art and culture is lauded and appreciated and supported. This is where my work comes from. Foraged materials, simple functional designs and artistic references to things that remind me of what I consider to be home.

In my artistic practice, I explore the inner worlds of individuals in the queer community, focusing on their struggles during self-discovery and acceptance in a largely heterosexual society. My journey has been marked by significant adversity, these experiences have shaped my identity and fueled my desire to abstract my challenges, fostering dialogue with the audience about the complexities of being true to oneself in a world that often prioritizes conformity. My goal is to challenge perceptions and biases I’ve encountered along my journey while celebrating the beauty of authentic self-expression. 

Central themes of my work include identity, acceptance, and the emotional toll of societal pressures. Living in a world where being a member of the queer community is often equated with sin, leaves me to grapple with the painful question: how can love ever be a sin? This internal conflict is mirrored in my art, where I highlight the necessity of adopting multiple personas as a means of survival. I aim to capture the essence of a performative self rather than living genuinely, reflecting the solitude and isolation that often accompany the journey for true self-expression. My imagery symbolizes the complex relationship between religion and self-acceptance, prompting reflection on these intricate and often contradictory connections. 

Using narrative themes in clay, I employ everyday objects to provide conceptual accessibility while inviting the viewer to engage more deeply with the narrative. I incorporate a variety of surfaces finishes that adds to the narrative and abstraction of the piece. I capitalize on the harmony between the structure, formal qualities of clay, and my process and the inherent spontaneity of finishes, and glaze. This push and pull of ceramics mirrors our nonlinear journey of self-discovery. The spontaneity of glaze suggests the inner turmoil and instability experienced by individuals on their path to true self-expression 

My photography echoes my ceramic practice, utilizing both DSLR and black-and-white film techniques. This medium allows me to further expound upon my ceramic work by staging and capturing a diverse array of imagery that addresses stereotypes and preconceived notions surrounding self-discovery, particularly in a predominantly heterosexual environment. Through this dual approach, I aim to create a cohesive dialogue that resonates with my primary themes. 

Artists who have significantly impacted my work include Claude Cahun and Kristen Cliffel. Cahun’s exploration of identity and self-representation, along with her personal battle against societal norms, inspires me to interrogate the fluidity of persona. Cliffel’s examination of everyday imagery and her ability to imbue it with new commentary deepen my understanding of how personal experiences carry profound significance. Her dissection of the dichotomous relationship between societal expectations and personal reality resonates with my own explorations of authenticity versus acting performatively. 

My intention is to invite my audience to reflect on the profound emotional struggles that accompany our journeys toward genuine self-expression. By addressing questions and narratives other may rather sweep under the mat, I hope to foster empathy and understanding both within and beyond the queer community. It is my aspiration that my work offers solace and solidarity in the shared struggle for acceptance and authenticity.

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a pencil and paper in hand. My true passion in life has always been to create art and expand my talent in different mediums. I also find enjoyment in storytelling, sitting down to watch a movie or getting lost in the pages of a book is my escape from reality. My love for art and storytelling has come from watching Disney, Adventure Time, and Gravity Falls, as well as reading the Throne of Glass series and A Song of Ice and Fire. With this, I wanted to expand my horizons and use my talent for art and writing to become a graphic novelist.

Through my journey, I have experimented with how I want to tell my story in the form of comics. From creating my first comic, I wanted to tell a thriving fantasy story where my character design echoes the narrative of the story. The character tells me what type of person they are, the environment that they live in, and the panels that help the story flow. I mainly focus on the fantasy genre because it’s where my imagination can thrive to create my world of epic adventures, complicated magic systems, and unique characters. My hope for my comics is that people all over enjoy the story and characters I create and that it inspires them to make their own.

One recurring character in my work is Kokopelli, who holds deep meaning for me. My aunt had a connection to this Native American trickster god of fertility and mischief, and after her passing, I felt compelled to bring him into my art. I see myself in Kokopelli’s role as a wandering figure, sharing stories and creativity. While he plays a flute, I sketch—finding inspiration in the world and my own mischievous nature. 

I embrace a range of imagery in my art, from playful and humorous to unsettling and chaotic. My work often explores the less glamorous aspects of life, injecting funk, chaos, and a sense of dark humor. It’s a visual language that pokes fun at itself while speaking to deeper, sometimes uncomfortable truths.