finding peace
2022-2023 fiber installation
yarn, spinning fiber, hand-dyed cotton, mixed media collage

loc installation
2023. hand-dyed cotton

My hand-dyed locs throughout my work first entered my practice in my 2018 installation, My Body is Deserving, and has played a role throughout my work ever since. All of my approaches to experiencing mediums hold a different purpose. Painting is for release. Weaving is for connection. Collaging is for being seen. Crocheting is for understanding. These locs in the installation “Patience” were a mindfulness journey of learning what the material needs as it grows in size. It was a practice of creating support, listening to the material, moving through the process, and having faith—knowing I could undo and do it again. Through this work, I practiced the same themes that I needed to give to myself during a period of deep healing and rediscovery. As we grow, our relationships grow, and our visions grow—we must learn to adapt and evolve through the changes with patience and faith.

2023. Mixed Media on Cotton.
58 inches x 72 inches

Thankful for Her: Rhythms of Growth is a tribute to myself, my self-awareness, and my past self. Three self-portraits—including a 2014 me, are collaged together to create a meditation on time with self and appreciation for the rhythms of my growth. At times, through my practice, I unintentionally create artwork for the version of me that needs it on the other side—and for that, I thank my spiritual connection and ancestors. Towards the end of this piece, it became the soft, radiant, healing energy I needed while navigating emotional changes and relationship shifts. This piece honors the various journeys that I move through in solitude to evolve into new versions of myself to share with my loved ones and the world.

intimate gestures & pinky promises
digital collage on velvet
73 in x 54 in
2022

Human touch can increase feelings of trust, compassion, and generosity. Human touch can decrease feelings of fear and anxiety. "intimate gestures and pinky promises" is a visual and body movement interpretation of lessons learned from a seemingly healthy romantic relationship, being exposed as distorted and traumatic. Exploring the intimate gesture of handholding, the transfer of energy, and the way we connect through hands—the collage is documentation of performance.

The collage features actual polaroids from moments in the relationship and is surrounded by authentic loving, intimate gestures with myself post-relationship. The relationship with myself and understanding of myself is what made the relationship beautiful. The visual collage is reflected through words in the piece, "but you didn’t love him.”

part two: blossoming
2023. digital collage on velvet
54 inches x 72 inches

Part Two: Blossoming is the sister piece to “intimate gestures & pinky promises.” Part Two: Blossoming was created a year later, but used hand self-portraits from the same photo shoot in 2021. A year later, I was drawn to poses, compositions, and colors that are more expansive, lighter, natural, expressive, and loving—representative of the place I am today in comparison. This piece embraces a new era of freedom, loving, and openness to community.

Through weaving, I have challenged myself both in color and scale. Through monochromatic color studies, I intend to challenge myself through repetition, variety, and color—an investigation into how many ways I can express a color. How many textures of yellow can I dive into? How can shades and tints be portrayed through fiber? What is the impact of surrounding ourselves with these colors and these colors alone?