Armor
Platinum Palladium prints on board, 2024
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My envelope book project, adorned with platinum palladium prints, serves as a visual and poetic exploration of the complexities of masculinity within the context of an intimate relationship. The exterior of the envelope reflects a stoic demeanor, and presents an outward facade of strength and resilience through the use of the hard-metal print process. However, as one explores into the folds of the envelope, they are met with a more tender and vulnerable narrative—a collection of poems called Workday Poems, which I write for my boyfriend and leave for him around the house.
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Through this juxtaposition of materials and content, I seek to challenge the conventional notions of masculinity and reveal the intricate layers of vulnerability that lie beneath the surface. While it is a functional object that these poems will live in, it also serves as a commentary on the dichotomy between societal expectations and personal vulnerability, highlighting how the performance of toughness can sometimes obscure the softer, more empathetic aspects of one's character. Ultimately, this project invites viewers to reflect on the complexities toxic masculinity can bring to relationships, offering a glimpse into the tender heart that beats beneath this armor.
Through an ongoing self-portrait series, I explore my own relationship to the American Dream and American 'bootstrap ideology'.
Through poignant portraits and introspective moments, we glimpse the weight of expectation, and the desire to break free from the constraints of hard work and stoicism as valued tradition. The imagery of bootstraps symbolizes the burden of expectation, the relentless pursuit of resilience, and the struggle to stay afloat in a world where nothing is promised. In the end, we are all left to redefine for ourselves what American resilience looks like.
Counting Straps and Spurs
Italia
While embarking on my undergraduate journey, I seized the opportunity to explore the intersection of art and personal narrative, channeling my experiences abroad into my first ever fine art project. Immersed in the captivating landscapes and vibrant culture of Sorrento, Italy, I found myself captivated by new sights, experiences, and people that crossed my path. It was amidst this backdrop of discovery and adventure that my visual narrative began to take shape, weaving together fragments of my encounters and emotions.
Through my artwork, I sought to encapsulate the essence of my journey, translating fleeting moments of awe and wonder into enduring images that resonate with viewers. From the sun-drenched streets of Sorrento to the breathtaking vistas of the Amalfi Coast, each diptych became a testament to the transformative power of travel and the indelible impact it leaves on the soul. Through my visual narrative, I invite viewers to embark on their own journey of discovery, to immerse themselves in the beauty and complexity of the world around us, and to find inspiration in the stories that shape our lives.
Ophelia
Across centuries, Ophelia has been unfairly dichotomized as either a promiscuous seductress, or a pure, virtuous maiden. Both interpretations painted by society's misguided perceptions of love, youth, and femininity.
These misconceptions have tragically overshadowed the complexities of Ophelia's inner turmoil in one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, reducing her to a mere archetype rather than a multidimensional character. I aim to confront the inherent biases ingrained within our cultural narratives and shed light on the profound injustices inflicted upon Ophelia's character, and ultimately a misconception that perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have far-reaching implications for how we perceive and treat women in society. Through my portraits, I seek to reclaim Ophelia's narrative, honoring her complexity and resilience in the face of societal scrutiny, reclaiming her agency as a symbol of empowerment and defiance against oppressive norms.
The Algorithmic Gaze
Because of the published 1892 short story, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, wallpaper has become the metaphor for the confinement that women feel in the domestic sphere. Inspired by this literature and its cultural impact, I explore the confinement that I feel trapped inside of through an immersive wallpaper installation.
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This confinement for me is felt in many aspects of life through cultural, familial, social, gendered and academic expectations. There is an internal process that happens within myself, especially now in my mid-twenties, that questions how these expectations shape my reality and perspective of myself, or which aspects I have to abandon in order to feel what is best for me. I created this wallpaper using DALLE2 and AI image generating prompts. We still don’t fully understand where these new software’s are pulling their references from, and we are left to question if it is pulling from an all-encompassing view of our internet media, or if there are decisions behind the complex coding that pull from specific content. The same questions I ask myself about AI, are often ones I ask about my own perspective.
