Process, Material, and Emotion

When creating an artwork, process is crucial to me. The act of creating is as valuable as the finished piece. I lose myself in whatever I’m working on and fully devote myself to it. To do this, I often seek out intensive, borderline obsessive processes. Through these hands-on, obsessive processes, I engage my whole body. The artwork becomes an extension of myself and we share an intimate bond. Material is a critical part of my sculptural work. Working with traditional mediums, like wood and steel, and experimenting with more unconventional materials, like hair and dirt, allow me to find unique qualities and textures. I find exploring what can be achieved with each material fascinating. A recurring theme in my work is giving physical form to inner feelings and experiences. Some of these works are visualizations of specific emotions, while others are ambiguous forms meant to resonate conflicted feelings. Most of my previous projects in this theme were based on what I was personally experiencing at the time, but this semester I have been exploring the feelings of death and doom hanging over many of us. The year 2020 and the beginnings of 2021 have been tremendously marred by death and turmoil, and by creating works that embody those emotions, I want to allow my viewers to truly feel and honor their grief