Artist’s Statement

     My body of work is rooted in personal memories and experiences. I approach this concept using two distinct styles. Firstly, I often draw upon the

aesthetic of my childhood. This includes colors, textures, and patterns that served as the background of my youth. I take a lot of inspiration and

reference from childhood photos and home videos. The quality of film is something I highlight in the techniques used to render my pieces. I’m very

interested in the way I felt as a child, and how I can effectively represent this. I want the pieces to give this impression, without explicitly explaining the

concept. This body of work has a light-hearted feel, while giving the sense of discomfort beneath the ‘shininess’ of youth. The second style utilizes a

representational approach, exploring topics of religion and trauma, under the unified aesthetic of the Southern Gothic landscape. Living with complex

development trauma, a form of complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, has resulted in my feeling of a disconnect between my present and younger

self. My work includes images of myself, at various ages, to bridge the past and the present. I feel that I’ve grown closer to understanding my past

through the work that I make. I consider it to be an exploration of how trauma responses serve as a protection from painful memories. I feel deeply

connected to the nurturing side of nature, and how this concept relates to my life. These landscapes often appear in my work, as a result. I strive to

make work that speaks on behalf of the young girl who couldn’t.