Artist Statement

    When I create, I want to utilize a voice that is hard for me to tune into in my everyday life, and through art I can explore social and environmental issues that I’m passionate about. I
often express these topics through themes of identity, isolation, decay, and false perceptions. Overall, my collegiate work narrates my life through bliss and pain, and incorporates science themes from my biology education. I research the Romantic, Realist, Surrealist, and BioArt genres for inspiration before I
begin a project. My process incorporates traditional and non-traditional media. My favorite
traditional mediums are drawing based such as inks and charcoals. I enjoy conveying emotion by exploring the use of line, light, and muted color tones. My recent art led me to an ungraduate research project utilizing light produced from bioluminescent dinoflagellates in art practice. My
research sparked a desire to incorporate more scientific research into my artwork.
I aspire to be like Brandon Ballengée, a practicing biologist and artist, or Erica
Blumenfeld, an artist who collaborates with scientists. Their hybrid creations are innovative,
bridging communication between the studies and the public. I want to convey to my audience a
glimpse into my world, other worlds, and our natural world to see the connectivity among
everything. I hope what I learn can inspire others to think from a new perspective, including
myself, and plant a seed to make changes that improve our environment and society.