Artist Statement

I create works that are messy, thrashing, and against the grain but find reference points in traditions that have outlasted centuries of art movements. Thematically, I choose to explore death, occultism and mysticism, and gender and presentation. Viewers of my work will notice humor and darkness sprinkled in my themes, working in tandem to develop a message. While the inevitability of some of the themes I work with can feel frightening, I want the viewers to feel at ease when confronted with them.

The creator of modern satanism, Anton LaVey, asserts that, “There is a beast in man that should be exercised, not exorcised.”. Humans are meant to be their whole selves and exercise all parts of their being instead of being forced to conform to society and other people’s ideals. The themes in my work often explore this concept, touching on occultism and against-the-grain ideas that spit in the face of societal expectations of the individual. My piece, “Ave Satanas”, exemplifies the need to explore occultism and darkness in my works. Using the color reduction printmaking technique, I created a large print of a winged goat’s head with worms and centipedes crawling out of the mouth and devouring the wings. There is text on the top and bottom of the piece, proclaiming “Kill Your Gods”. I want the viewer to question the idea of divinity and find the power in the human experience without the need for godhood.

In my work, I explore transformations and our relationships with them. My work embodies these transformations' expansive and restrictive nature, often referencing my identity as a nonbinary individual. I want to understand the forms and make-ups of my materials, from basic elements to their conception as an art piece. To mold them from their fundamental state of being into something new, in that way, my art imitates my life experiences. I work in a variety of media, never wanting to feel tied down to one concept for too long. I’m interested in the malleable nature of clay and metal, the reactivity of resin and plaster, and the tradition of paper and ink. Each of these materials informs the next and builds a library of skills and intrigue that create the body of work.