Artist Statement Video
Art is my oxygen. It is how I metabolize what is happening in the world and understand my lived experiences. When I observe something, I chew on it. I absorb it. I sit with it. This experience is a kind of nonverbal communication, where I experiment with stories and ideas in my head until I build conviction in an idea that then becomes something I am propelled to share. It’s a process of sensing, feeling, and intuiting.
I have a filmic mindset toward my work. Notions of perception, performance, and time run through my mind. I find a feeling that is intriguing. It’s valuable. And I want to make work so that the viewer can come and have an immersive experience.
Growing up in the Midwest and living in Prague as a volunteer ESL teacher have impacted my art and life. All of my memories are a through-line in my art. I warehouse those source memories. I use them to create experiences that are memorable through untold stories.
My work exists wherever I am. I rarely start a project with a clear intention. In most cases, it is an object that I connect with that links with a memory and ignites an emotion. Through that emotion I find myself creating empathy and speaking on behalf of these silent artifacts. In many cases, I bring to light what has been, or is in danger of being erased.
My process is maximal at first. When I find an object that connects, my curiosity goes into overdrive. I take in a lot of information, ask a million questions, and fully explore a topic. From the anatomical level to the galactic level, the macro to the micro, there are countless themes and tensions that are worth mining.
I’m curious like a journalist. What is the backstory? Why did something come to be? What’s going to happen next? What is the problem? I want to know everything. That’s when I figure out my relationship to this object. I’m constantly fleshing it out.
Once I find a way to tap into an emotion, I realize my idea physically. From there, I start to share with others, testing my idea with them and listening to their reactions. Feedback is invaluable to me. This process often results in the idea shifting and materials changing form. What may start with a found object transforms into a concept through the addition and experimentation of materials, such as textile, neon, photography, and often multimedia elements.
Many of my works appear to be fun, even playful. Upon deeper inspection, they appear to be off. Because they are. I’m an unreliable narrator, as my work may seem simple or direct at first but ultimately leaves many avenues to explore.
My goal is to make works that shift people out of habitual mindsets. I create art to spark curiosity, and provoke an emotional response from the viewer.