Artist Statement

Many create art to escape their past; I have chosen to embrace it.

Raised in a deeply religious household, I developed an early fascination with the rich colors and pageantry of the Catholic Mass. Though my personal beliefs have evolved over time, this childhood exposure grew into a lifelong appreciation for Byzantine, Orthodox, and Islamic iconography. These traditions still inform my work through structured designs where pattern, texture, and light dictate the final product.

I frequently apply imitation gold leaf and iridescent finishes over flat, matte underpaintings, creating a stark visual contrast that shifts with the lighting and the viewer's perspective. My mixed-media paintings are richly textured, reflecting influences from the ornamentation of sacred spaces, the vintage family textiles of my youth alongside historical wallpaper designs, and the organic geometry of the natural world. These influences have carried over directly into my most recent installation work.

My work is a complex blend of organic forms, sacred symbolism, and geometric grids built over a textured surface. It is work that is contemporary, yet reminiscent of ages past. Ultimately, my goal is to create works that invite viewers to linger, discover, and enjoy a bit of escapism during trying times.

(rev 9/2026)