Artist Statement
I am a self-taught artist whose work explores empathy, identity, and the human experience, intricately
woven through social justice and introspection themes. My paintings explore the complexity of human interaction, inviting viewers to reflect on their role within societal structures and the emotional
fabric that binds us together. I examine the stories of everyday life, offering a lens through which we can confront challenging questions about race, equity and the state of shared
humanity.
My career as an educator of elementary-age children influenced my painting style and material choices. I often incorporate text into
paintings. My master’s degree in reading education and the thirty years of reading aloud to children and being read to by children from storybooks where picture and text go hand-in-hand have
influenced this creative choice. I attribute my artistic style to the hundreds of young children I taught. The daily interactions with children and the moment-by-moment immersion into their
concrete thinking rests on my canvases via simple lines, shapes, values, and textures in vivid colors set into a narrative.
My practice is guided by the belief that art possesses the power to foster empathy. My compositions often juxtapose vulnerability with
strength, aiming to dissolve the barriers that separate people from one another; urging viewers to engage not just with the artwork, but with the issues it represents, using my canvas as a space for
dialogue, reflection, and change.
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