My work begins as a knot in the stomach—an uneasy tangle of frustration and sadness that sharpens the awareness of beauty in fleeting moments. These narrative paintings explore states of mind where language falters, contradictions coexist, and dreams bleed into waking life. I’m drawn to wonder—not as an escape, but as a form of resistance. It allows us to imagine that the world can be different, that transformation is possible.
In my creative process, myth and magical realism serve as maps. Figures emerge as archetypes rooted in fairy tales, campfire stories, and the surreal clarity of dreams. I strive to create tension—like a chord suspended between major and minor keys—where opposites meet and resonate. The imagery may not always make sense, but there is something sensed rather than spoken. My hope is that viewers will step into the work through wonder and see themselves reflected in its terrain.
In these paintings and drawings, I explore the potential of mythological and irrational imagery to evoke complex emotional states. I’m influenced by medieval art from Europe and India—especially Buddhist visual traditions, which use figuration to externalize inner experience. I also draw inspiration from contemporary artists who use experimental mark-making to reinvent narrative. My current work blends autobiography and fiction, threaded with humor. I’m continually refining this approach, investigating the connections between mental health and environmental health, and telling a personal story in a way that others might recognize as their own.