Artist Statement

 

I adore the order of columns and rows. I search for this balance in my work, poised between formal artistic considerations and themes that are both personal and universal. The intentional use of light and shadow is central to this search and can be seen in the abstract shapes I create from treated textiles. Work made of antique dessert plates or monochrome plaster forms highlight a similar interplay. These forms are used to scrutinize topics of LGBTQ equality, race and gender. The art activism of ACT UP in the 1980s and 90s had a profound impact on me and I often participated in their public actions. It instilled in me a thirst to have my voice heard and prepared me to explore the tension between beauty and discomfort.

 

My approach balances the appeal of the artistic form and the clash of the underlying themes, which are decidedly more provocative. For me, these two ideas are not in opposition, but rather work in concert to create their own unique experience. They provide a point of entry to an idea that may otherwise be avoided yet still hold space for an authentic artistic encounter. These amalgams are also a way for me to personally process the complexities of these subjects and provide an unending avenue of artistic exploration.