Baker Artist Portfolios

"Wisps of Nature" is a group of abstract paintings that combines collage and the fluidity of mixed media to evoke the magic of natural settings. Each piece includes multiple layers where surprise critters, blooming flowers, and vibrant plants emerge.  Handmade and purchased papers are used.  The collage process reminds me of my earlier days as a quilter.  

This series explores traditional Vietnamese childhood games, including O An Quan, Banh Dua, Cuop Co (Capture the Flag), and Nhay Lo Co (Hopscotch). These works capture the pure, childlike excitement and joy found in moments of play—feelings rooted in being fully immersed in the present, playing simply for the sake of having fun, without any goals or expectations.

Thương is a powerful word in Vietnamese. Thương means unconditional love, a love that exceeds one’s personal selfishness. Paradoxically, when you add the adverb “bị” in, bị thương means to be hurt.

Child’s Play is a body of work (collage-based paintings and installation) and community arts programming (inner-child collage workshops) that documents my inner-child healing through ‘play.’ These works are inspired by personal photos from family photo albums and influential friendships in my life.

Good For The Soul is an ongoing body of work that documents my inner-child healing through ‘play.’ These works emphasize the importance of play and exploration in daily practice and are inspired by art forms enjoyed during my youth, including collage, found object, crochet, and installation. I incorporate fabrics and fibers gifted to me from people in my life and repurposed canvas from older works (studies from TEAL) into paintings of collages made for the sole purpose of experiencing joy regardless of the times.

In my work I utilize the house form to represent a persona.  This series of paintings explore the deconstruction of my usual house form.  Through gestural mark making, dynamic composition, and a vibrant palette I intend to connect the viewer to the situations I am creating.  I want to play with tension, ease, movement, and layered emotion.  While the house can represent safety, solidarity and security this past year has complicated all of these identities.  This work addresses the complex and dynamic feelings wrapped around the sense of home.

Perspective, a grounding point, a place of identity that both spews and clarifies.  It is a common experience that behaves like a kaleidoscope from our vantage point.  It is full of nuance and color, and can turn fearfully black and white.  We strive to understand the complexity and reach common ground.  We should delight in the way our experience, identity, and our roots color our view,  We turn from our spot in each direction, and as we overlap there is a collective experience.

This Misattribution series originated from creating these 6 x 8 x 2 wooden boxes.  The art work inside consists of heavy paper, collage, burnt embers, stamps and gauze.  The work was affixed into the box by glue and tape.  The back was presented with wire for hanging.

As I continue to interpret my natural surroundings, my work reflects my interest in creating dynamic movement and energy through a combination of strong design, texture and abstraction