Artist Statement

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As an artist I explore and develop spaces as access points to a queer understanding; my work examines the complex experiences of a trans-feminine being in early 21st century America. In order to capture these personal histories and observations I incorporate performance, video documentation, intermedial installations and written word. At the center of my work lies an abject, or abstract beauty. I search for and utilize industrial products that apply specifically to each work, either for visual impact or conceptual cohesion. Because of  accessibility and variety, DIY and wholesale services provide an impressive selection of the raw steel, colorful plastic sheeting, mylar, barbed wire, hosing, plaster, or other materials I feature in my practice. Maybe one of my most important materials is the body. I am transfixed by the body, mine in particular, and will take any opportunity to engage with it in dialogue. This interest in my physical form and contemporary interpretations of feminist theory, queer history, and trans-intimacy assemble the backbone of my interests and lend themselves heavily to my works, often being embedded bluntly through on the nose representation, subversively within symbolism, or academically with accompanying essays and supplementary texts.. To merge these vastly different materials and mediums I find myself engaging in several very different processes throughout my studio hours– one day I may be 3D-scanning and casting a form of my body with my blood suspended in it, the next I may be welding or editing down hours of video footage or just writing a poem. This helps me make certain my work is always refreshing to me and my audience and leaves a lot of room for experimentation. My body of work thrives off of its contrasting industrial construction and soft bodily imagery, and is brought to life by my vulnerability and varied research.