gallery

Artist’s Statement

My work in mixed media collage combines my love of symmetry with my joy of discovering the unexpected. This visual mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar represents a desire for stability and balance in life while remaining open to possibilities. I want my artwork to capture my personal paradox, the push and pull of remaining who I am while allowing spaciousness for change and discovery.

Working in collage allows me to experiment with complex layering to highlight contradictions in color, texture and shape. I use repeated patterns and rich textures, and designs are revealed in the process.

A film documenting the Lascaux Caves in southwestern France, famous for their Paleolithic paintings, inspired my cave art series. I am drawn to these paintings because I am fascinated by how early humans used simple line and shape to tell stories and make prayer offerings. In the process of creating my cave art series I can often feel the presence of tribal beings. This was especially true in the painting, Ancestor Spirits; I felt guided in the art by unseen forces. My practice of Vision Questing brings me this same feeling of connection with the ancients. I find unlimited creative inspiration during my time spent alone fasting and praying in the wilderness.

I want to be the entire artist I can be in this lifetime. For me, the most important thing is to continue creating, finding inspiration from the unseen forces and strengthening my ability to make art that comes from a place deep within. I invite the viewer to take a closer look, and like myself, step into the unknown.