Artist Statement
I was born in Taylorsville, North Carolina, but spent most of my childhood in Lancaster County and the surrounding area. I grew up in dilapidated farmhouses, spaces defined by peeling paint, decaying wood, and a fragile, dust-laden sense of shelter. These environments left a lasting imprint on me—both as a source of comfort and protection, and as something I felt an urgent need to escape. There remains a deep longing for that sense of safety to return, alongside a desire to build an entirely new world beyond it.
My work confronts the reality that once innocence is lost and illusions are shattered, they cannot be fully restored. Instead, there are shifts in perception and continual recalibrations over time. I think of growth as something delicate and precise—difficult to describe, yet always bending toward the light. I am drawn to the belief that people, like objects, become more interesting and beautiful when evidence of time is allowed to surface and flaws are left unapologetically visible. This sensibility is reflected in my admiration for materials and forms that are layered, worn, or weathered.
I allow my personal feelings to spill into my work as a way of releasing their weight—whether that process is messy, therapeutic, or both. A recurring point of exploration is the idea of wholeness. I often use androgynous figures as a means of engaging this conversation, seeking a balance between openness and completeness. A lack of wholeness is not a measure of worth. Through themes of death, trauma, and loss, I aim to introduce a quiet resilience—approaching heavy subjects with subtle resistance, tenderness, and moments of whimsy.