Artist Statement

In my art practice, I have always identified as an art historian first and a studio artist second however,
over time these two facets of my identity have become increasingly enmeshed, and I have stopped
trying to untangle them and just let them lead me together in my work. Throughout my life, I have been
particularly fascinated with the symbolist movement of the late 19th century. For me, exploring works
from this period is like learning to speak a secret language that culturally unites humanity. Symbolism
has been a persistent thread running through my own practice and I seek out ways to utilize it to both
convey my own lived experience while allowing autonomy for my audience to simultaneously connect
with my work in their own unique way. In my studio practice I engage with printmaking techniques as
well as traditional painting. I cannot say that I prefer one over the other but rather that I require the
ability to vacillate between the two to satisfy the duality of my creative process. Printmaking lends
itself to being a bit more non-committal and experimental as a medium allowing me the freedom to
explore new techniques without the fear of making mistakes. Whereas painting is more of a long term
commitment which in the end is very rewarding but often a more rigid experience for me overall.