I am an Indianapolis resident and full-time Herron student currently pursuing a BFA in painting. I consider myself to be a self-taught artist. I originally transferred from Butler University, where I majored in Art & Design with a minor in museum studies. At Herron I work as a work-study assistant in the TIMI Lab, where I mostly help to laser engrave and 3D print. As of now, I am considering the possibility of pursuing a masters in visual art sometime after graduation. Initially I had hopes of specifically working within the museum sphere, but with experiencing everything Herron has to offer I now want to work within a diverse range of creative professions. Since my first year of college I have studied abroad in both Italy and Austria on the topics of Art and Culture. I have been in around 5 public art exhibitions as of now, and have gone on to even write a label for the Lume guest show at Newfields.
Artist Statement
To me, being an artist allows for the mind to conceptualize a form of expression and observation. When I create, depending on the circumstances, I create in a way that reflects my identity and conscious/unconscious desires. I have valued the act of originality and continue to value the impact of seeing Black bodies reflected in art in a meaningful and often symbolic way. I want to reimagine the “traditional” and explore the avenues of domestic functionality when it comes to my dimensional work. When I create, I want the viewer to experience internal conflict, a conflict that challenges the idea of identity and norms whether social or physical.
In relation to my past work, my work now has become more technical, in both technique and composition. As a self-described, multifaceted person the content of my work has become more metaphorical in ways that contradict the stagnant directness of my past work. I also believe that my art history background plays a huge role in how I conceptualize a piece or body of work. Contemporarily, my work has made itself almost adjacent to the developing art scene, especially when compared to contemporary Black artists. When juxtaposed my work evokes more a singular identity than a shared relation. This especially when considering my own developing artistic practices.
Ranging from mixed-media to unconventional canvases, I utilize any and everything I can when creating a piece of art. For instance the use of cardboard as a canvas, laser engraving the sketch of a painting, or even using coffee and henna as mediums. Inspired by the classical and academic arts, I try to reinvent their production to fit my own vision. Though I often do this through portraiture, varying the techniques and concepts is what makes each of them different.
Authenticity of identity, originality, and complexity mark the basis of my work. Each piece may be similar, but never replicable in my hands. I strive to be an artist, that can be an artist. That is what I am.