Painting
Artist Statement
Violence, fantasy, humor and the body are intrinsically intertwined within the architecture of popular visual media. It provokes raw and visceral reactions, while simultaneously possessing the ability to sincerely enlighten a viewer. The ever approaching shift in climate disaster and the havoc it may have on both humans and nature alike, guides my work as a primary thematic and conceptual structure. Thus, the work I presently produce rests at the avenue of exploration and experimentation of the human body, the animal body, the natural space they inhabit and what stories they can tell. The intersection of these themes allows for a unique narrative between the entirely serious ideals of environmental destruction and the display of strange, outlandish and unusual subject matter. Oftentimes, this fusion or connection of forms will create an intentional uneasiness, but juxtaposed by the playfulness of color and characterization. The paintings teeter on the edge of fantasy and delusion, violence and environmental fascination, constantly shifting in either direction without a specific resolution in sight. Humorously, the characters may be seemingly unaware or blissfully ignorant about the ecological catastrophe that they reside in. Constrastingly, the figures may be proudly partaking in their gluttonous carnage. The power of stories, violence and comedy are crucial to the success of these narratives.