Artist Statement
My art practice is a therapeutic conversation that peels back years of protective practices and is a process of revealing who I am rather than the person I’m expected to be. I highlight cultural identifiers with gestural expression while utilizing identity and connection as a navigation tool. I seek to evoke a sense of nostalgia and introspection, inviting the viewer to find their own narratives within my pieces. Depending on the subject matter I shift between contour painting and digital collage to communicate concepts of community and the interwoven experiences people share. The collage configurations highlight Black identity in vulnerable compositions while the use of single lines depict the connective qualities through the past and present. I also utilize installation art as tools to discover nostalgic moments of identity with everyday objects that are overlooked but share a familiarity in peoples’ lives. These varying approaches allow me to explore themes of impermanence, resilience, and community—concepts that deeply resonate with my personal experiences. Throughout my pieces my single-line work has become a signature. While simple, its presence gives viewers a complete moment of my expression of the interconnected experiences from start to finish. The application of the lines mimics the emotional state I feel from the world. It acts as a timestamp for understanding the trials and tribulations happening at that current time. My art is an invitation to pause and reflect. I invite viewers to experience self-discovery through others’ expressions. Throughout my life as a Black man in America I’ve always had to watch, learn, and conform to make others comfortable with my existence. I hope to highlight those lived narratives that inspire viewers to relate, engage with emotion, and find connections between their stories and mine.
