STATEMENT

My work references objects of routine and the human figure, exploring themes of queer corporeality, childhood, and how these two intersect within our contemporary milieu. Using ceramic, paint, encaustic, charcoal, ink, and fiber,  I construct assemblages of the human body, and what the hands of this body may touch. These figures resist dominant narratives of what a functional/gendered/anatomically correct/beautiful body looks like. Coming (out) and into my queerness has reignited my curiosity and love for the human form. My art helps me feel like myself while navigating a collective, a feeling I visually capture through layering compositional elements. In my work, an individual form is never quite alone, never quite physiologically accurate, or even fully distinct; rather, my bodily forms appear as melting mashups, distortions, and fragmented assemblages of elements from everyday life. By reshaping human flesh and its surroundings I am able to reimagine my own queer figure and reconnect with my body.

Clay and oil paints are the mediums I choose to work with above all else. I am drawn to oil paint for its vivid colors and ability to accommodate expression through quick brush strokes and bleeding hues. I am drawn to clay as a medium because of its ability to absorb texture and its flexibility in form.  I like to scribble with clay the way I do with charcoal. Textures on my sculptures mimic the expressive cross hatching and thick lines of drawings through a mix of carved and drawn on strokes. I lean into the messiness of the material, allowing for the evidence of its softness against the harsh use of tools to show in the final piece. Oxide washes sink into the line-work, while underglaze and glaze bring bright colors and outlines. Clay is shaped through receiving and holding on to touch, much like how the self is shaped through the experiences of the body. Both ceramic and oil paint are materials that feel very much alive. To work with them is to get to know their limitations, accept their schedule, and constantly discover new traits.