Artist Statement:

The surreal images I explore in my paintings and other media reflect how I interpret and navigate this surreal political climate as a transgender man and as part of the Florida LGBTQ+ diaspora. I take inspiration from dreams, religious imagery, and scenes from everyday life–merging these themes in unexpected ways. Current subjects of interest in my painting are gender queer people of the past, what we call “trancestors” and nighttime landscapes.  I use nontraditional colors to depict people and landscapes to reflect the complexity of lived experience and perception. While oil and watercolor painting are my preferred mediums, I am always taking inspiration from creatives both current and past and I am always experimenting with artistic mediums and styles. As a career librarian I am keenly interested in exploring boundaries of censorship and epistemology. I question ideas of blasphemy and spirituality while painting from the context of my Christian upbringing.