Growing up in an urban environment, I learned to fear my surroundings; twilight represented danger, and strangers embodied harm. As I matured, I reclaimed symbols of nighttime and nature through painting and drawing, transforming my fears into empowerment. I create supernatural terrains and spiritual motifs to explore my mental landscape, turning escapist fantasies of being in control of my environment into mystical settings that reflect Black figures and natural symbols. This approach deepens my self-understanding of belonging while resisting the fearful limitations of being seen and emotionally vulnerable.

My abstract approach to making reflects my initial reluctance to disclose my personal narrative. To address this, I depict self-healing through spiritual metaphors and fantasy. Reptiles represent shedding past selves, flowers signify new beginnings, and fire embodies courage and purification. Hands are central to my work, symbolizing control over one’s destiny and anchoring my subjects within surreal, dreamlike lands. By merging these elements with urban symbols—city skylines, bricks, and windows— I create a dialogue between my past and present, blending fear with safety and allure.

The spaces I paint mirror solace and my upbringing at the cusp of the Midwest and Appalachia. This background continues to inform my practice and fosters conversation, allowing those with similar experiences of living in regional cusps to connect with themes of resilience and transformation. 

Artmaking clarifies my psyche, and empowers me to reclaim my space, in the studio, and on the streets.