My practice is multidisciplinary focusing on faux gold leaf oil paintings on canvas, ceramic sculptures, drawings and installation art.
Decorated Impermanence (paintings) is a collection of narrative works using symbolism for context. These paintings are inspired by 17th century still life paintings.
Flowers have a variety of meanings depending on the type of flower, in most of my paintings they represent life. The skeleton and skulls indicate death in many cultures but the perspectives on death are different. The gold leaf depicts wealth and what will be left behind. The butterfly expresses the fragility of life. The moth is a representation of death in many cultures. Insects stand for decay. Meat is a symbol of the body and wealth.
The owl and nightjar are nocturnal birds and considered signs of death. The crow and vulture have negative associations with death. The cardinal is believed to be deceased loved ones visiting. The sparrow is considered a positive omen.
Adorned/Abject (ceramic sculptures) explore superficiality, hidden meanings and the façade.
They explore ideas of superficiality, hidden meanings, the façade and the abject. The fragility of the material is an important element to the work, emulating the fragility of the society constructs they are inspired by.
Propaganda images and videos are visual inspirations for the work, including children’s books, parades, pamphlets and magazines from different time periods and cultures.
The ceramic installations are made up of ceramic miniatures in large groupings, they vary in concepts but the use of the window references the façade.
Although the 2D and 3D works have different concepts they influence and inspire each other allowing me the creative freedom I need in the studio.