Artist Statement

The scars, bruises, wrinkles, and stretch marks on our bodies hold an intimate history. These imperfections are written on the surface of our skin. I echo these forms and colors onto my organically abstract sculptures and 2D works using handmade paper. The fibers (abaca, flax, and cotton) are stretched around rusted steel armatures, like skin wrapped around our bones. As the paper dries, the rust soaks through the surface to create a texture that's difficult to replicate by hand. I then add layers of found charcoal, tea, burns, rust pigment, and paper. I’m drawn to this process because each piece is unique, and encourages endless experimentation.

My works are inspired by fragility and weight, destruction and rebirth, and organic versus industrial. These contrasting elements, when combined, bring balance to the form, as the heavy metal fights against the pull of the handmade paper. I burn off paper by flame or hot metal, then stitch some parts together while leaving others open. The negative space is just as important as the positive, creating an interaction between the light and shadow on the wall on which the sculpture hangs. I converse and collaborate with the material, with each layer informing the next.