2024
GIRLS
“GIRLS” is a series of mixed media paintings exploring the material process of image making, defined by the interaction between a collage and photorealistic painting to create images in a world of their own. Inspired by mixed media artists Mickalene Thomas, scrapbooking, the disjointed comprehension of AI image generators, and a world of consumed content living in my long and short-term memory, I craft paintings that highlight the symbiotic relationship between the artist, material and technology. Using AI as an inspiration rather than surrendering to it and attempting to merge human intuition with technological prowess, the result is a series of uneasy collages that hold a language of space and light of their own.
In my process I blend elements of painting, collage, and photography to craft worlds centered on familiar, figurative imagery. Using a mix of inkjet prints, acrylic paint, glitter, paper fragments, and other materials, this fusion is a multidimensional journey for the artist and viewer, utilizing a wide-range of skills and transforming the creative process beyond one medium and tool. My work starts with original film photography and builds in layers. The work’s existence online continues to transform it further, by now becoming a new piece of data for AI machines to infuse with. I’m interested in how our regurgitation of it’s own influence may impact what it produces, or at a minimum keeps us in conversation with it rather than in performance for it.
In my process I blend elements of painting, collage, and photography to craft worlds centered on familiar, figurative imagery. Using a mix of inkjet prints, acrylic paint, glitter, paper fragments, and other materials, this fusion is a multidimensional journey for the artist and viewer, utilizing a wide-range of skills and transforming the creative process beyond one medium and tool. My work starts with original film photography and builds in layers. The work’s existence online continues to transform it further, by now becoming a new piece of data for AI machines to infuse with. I’m interested in how our regurgitation of it’s own influence may impact what it produces, or at a minimum keeps us in conversation with it rather than in performance for it.
This is an ongoing series provided by the Art Gym Denver Eric Porter Scholarship and Residency
Acrylic paint on gesso board, ink jet prints, glitter, found paper, UV coating
...
2023
In Chroma
"In Chroma" is a series of artworks, deeply inspired by Sebastian Bremer's, "To Joy". In this series, I meld the classic art of 35 mm film photography with the vibrant strokes of acrylic paint. This fusion allows me to delve into and redefine my personal connection with both painting and photography, intertwining these mediums to create enchanting, otherworldly landscapes.
Each piece in the series acts as a portal, offering viewers a glimpse into both reality and fantasy. The scenes depicted seem to be touched by whimsy – as if dusted with snow, washed in rain, or shimmering with sparkles. This duality invites the audience to experience a unique blend of the tangible world and the imaginative realm.
The creation process of these works is a delicate balancing act. I meticulously apply paint to the deep matte prints, ensuring that the integrity of the archival quality is preserved. This careful approach guarantees that each stroke enhances rather than overwhelms, allowing the underlying photograph to harmoniously coexist with the added layers of paint. Through this intricate method, "In Chroma" stands as a testament to the seamless fusion of painting and photography, celebrating the magic that lies at the intersection of these two expressive forms.
35 mm photography, archival deep matte prints, acrylic paint, UV coating