About the Art

I am fascinated by religious and ceremonial relics - objects that have outlived their original purpose and the people who used them, yet which still inspire awe and reverence. Those who made such objects often wove hidden symbols into their work - something I often incorporate into my art as well. From internalized fears about social inequity and climate change, to a chance encounter with someone that left a lasting impression on me, I honor and immortalize those feelings and experiences abstractly through shapes, materials and other symbolism.

I employ wood, plaster, epoxy clay, gemstones, mineral specimens and gilding, to create objects that speak to ritual and spirituality. I strive to evoke a sense of importance, reverence and mystery by blurring the lines between natural objects and sculpted elements and between the unrefined and the refined. I push the boundaries of balance and fragility to create visual tension and tenuousness. My goal is to produce sculpts that could be perceived as ancient relics, instruments of pagan rituals, improbable products of nature, or something entirely otherworldly.

My sculptures are built upon an infrastructure of metal tubing, wire and plaster. Often either my materials or my designs are so delicate and fragile that I have to wear gloves or lay the work on a thickly padded surface during the initial stages of my sculpting. Once the piece can stand on its own, I refine its form and details. I work slowly - stepping away from each piece for days or weeks at a time - so I can think about what it wants and needs to be before continuing. I typically don’t decide on the final finish until I’ve completed all of the sculpting. At that point the piece tells me how to proceed, and it is my job to oblige.