Artist Statement

My work is deeply rooted in the struggle of coping with childhood trauma. I grew up embedded in adversity that has continuously shaped the way I navigate life. Abusive parentification, hoarding, and violence have been a constant source of anxiety manifesting as maladaptive coping mechanisms. The resulting shame of my upbringing has affected the relationships I have with myself and those around me.

In response, my work is a physical embodiment of perseverance and resiliency. The struggle with and ultimate acceptance of these conditions I was subjected to during my formative years informs my creative process. My practice recognizes the push and pull of growing up in adverse conditions. It is a balancing act of acceptance and protection; it is a constant agonizing over what may or may not be too taboo to disclose. I create forms that hold remnants of these experiences with the intent of creating a space for them to unashamedly exist.

My work shows that healing from trauma is never straightforward. Instead, it is multi-faceted; it is composed of layers of enmeshment and entanglement that need to be meticulously undone. My work is an act of resistance with a longing for detachment and protection achieved by confronting my convoluted familial patterns of childhood abuse. My work seeks to expose and create a space where these unspoken stories can be shared without fear. I acknowledge the resiliency needed to survive as a method of reclamation. By candidly expressing my struggles and analyzing my history from a safe place, I bring narratives out of secrecy, I create to dissolve shame, and I cultivate a sense of resiliency, growth, and survival.