As a multi-disciplinary artist working in painting, drawing, and mixed-media sculpture, I use my practice to explore relationships between people, nature and the environment. My work is rooted in a lifelong passion for the natural world, beginning with early experiences exploring the outdoors in the upper Midwest—fishing, swimming in Minnesota lakes, and hiking along creeks and riverbanks of the Mississippi. These moments promoted a lifelong fascination with wildlife and the environment that continues to inform my artistic practice.

Although I now reside in Los Angeles, a major urban landscape, my interest in animals, environmental concerns, and the beauty of nature persists. I approach my art-making as a process of both reflection and inquiry, using imagery of wildlife and natural scenes to examine the ecosystems we inhabit, and invite viewers to engage with the subject matter of my artwork on both aesthetic and conceptual levels.

 

A key concept that is also central to my practice is observing the ways that humans tend to stereotype as they project human emotions onto animals, often viewing them as either extraordinary, pests, or objects of disdain. In addition to issues about the environment I also aim to challenge romanticized notions of nature, highlighting the ongoing, often devastating impact of human activity and climate change on species and habitats. Ultimately, my art serves as both a personal and collective reflection on our interconnectedness with the environment, hoping to inspire consciousness about preservation, change, and empathy.