Oh, thinks Virginia, just before tea, here’s death.
—Michael Cunningham, The Hours
Being a human typically comes with big, existential questions:
Who am I? Do I matter? What is my purpose? Where do we go when we die? …
Through the centuries, we’ve devised various, often flawed systems in an attempt to answer them, or at least find comfort in their wake. The most direct example of this is religion, which furnishes us with an origin story, an afterlife, and rules about how to live. Christianity, in particular, has infiltrated modern American culture most significantly. In God We Trust and all that.
I view consumerism as another such system, albeit less explicit. For many people today, consumerism is a means of gaining identity and self-worth, accessing a sense of purpose, and participating in something bigger than themselves.
I’m interested in making artwork that depicts mundane manifestations of these systems. My paintings are based on images I take on the street, or from daily life, and often feature advertisements, buildings, storefronts, and signage. Through them, I hope to examine what we’re socialized to value or devalue.
I grew up in Los Angeles, went to college in Washington, DC, and have been based in New York City since 2019.