“I have no history, only that which the world has decided for me.”

As one of two adopted children in a bi-racial household, I share only my biological mother’s blonde hair and a propulsion towards art as described in my adoption papers. This limited knowledge connecting me to my personal heritage draws me to explore how my unique history significantly impacts my own sense of identity.

Having my connection to my ancestors largely severed, my identity is largely built on my environment. Growing up I found myself drawn to emulate the dolls and photos of pretty blonde girls that provided a reflection of myself missing in my family photos. The grief & anger of this absence and a need to see myself in my environment serves as a catalyst in my work, propelling me to challenge the source of our identities. Does one’s birthright, which for me is either redacted or hijacked, determine one’s identity? Or are we reflections of a largely transactional environment?

Whether through large scale vulgar paintings of banal subject matter or sculptural works that re-frame how we view the body, I encourage introspection into the cultural factors that form our identities.