Artist Statement

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I am interested in the code of signifiers built within clothing, and how they can reflect individualized experience. My work relies on the expectations of their function and determination in order to deconstruct their significance. I am intrigued by the disconnect between original intent and how these practical items are actually utilized and repurposed. There is a visual language that I use for my work, where the repetition of form reshapes their meaning. 

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I start with actual items of clothing, and arrange them so they feel more active. Then they are photographed or drawn from direct observation. This method of drawing allows me to view different positions so that I can understand the structure better. The images will either remain in that form, or be translated into a print. This mediation of subject matter through drawing and printmaking guides the overall tone. Regardless of process, the images inhabit a softness that removes them from the rigid context in which they exist. 

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I respond to material history, style, and how that has evolved over time. Gender theory, nonfiction, and cultural commentary also inform the work that I make. Of that writing, the most influential work is attributed to José Esteban Muñoz. His concept of potentiality speaks to the ephemeral qualities in my work. In this regard, the past, present, and future are equally as relevant, and remain constant in queer existence. 

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The overarching question that relates to my work is how can the images convey authentic human experience and identity without being fixed in one point of view? The quietness of my work acts as a moment of introspection. Recognizable features in garments are the catalyst for personal associations. I leave evidence of process within the drawings and prints to depict the parallel between making in all forms.