Artist Statement | Why It Looks Like This

My work begins with a glance—but lands as a punch. I isolate moments others might overlook—an awkward expression, a quiet pause, a flash of defiance—and translate them into bold, high-contrast visuals built to hold attention and provoke thought. Working primarily in high-contrast photorealistic painting with a graphic, pop-art edge, I aim to construct experiences, not just images.

My pieces often provoke an immediate reaction: a laugh, a wince, or a double-take. But beneath the surface, there’s usually something more. Humor and irony are tools I use to unpack deeper emotional truths and cultural commentary. I’m drawn to the tension between what we show and what we suppress—the unguarded gestures, the everyday absurdity.

For instance, The Cold takes a sneeze—an involuntary, often awkward act—and treats it as a moment worthy of artistic reverence. Teenage Negativity captures adolescent apathy with the drama of a photographic negative, while Upper Lipholstery turns my daughters into mustachioed icons of nostalgia, playfully echoing silent film tropes and pop culture references.

I also work in mixed media, including kiln-fired glass and collage, where I shift from control to improvisation. These pieces are layered—both materially and conceptually—giving space for spontaneity and tactile storytelling. Whether working in acrylics or assembling fragmented materials, I stay rooted in precision but allow room for visual wit.

Influences like Chuck Close and Audrey Flack guide my technique, while artists like Höch, Rauschenberg, and Kruger inspire how I think—collaging ideas, juxtaposing themes, and reframing what’s familiar. I also draw heavily from the visual language of silent films, where expressions had to carry entire narratives. That same dramatic sensibility lives in my figures, lighting, and compositions.

Each work is meant to engage. It asks you to pause, reconsider, and maybe even laugh before realizing what’s really being said. Whether in a gallery or private collection, these pieces are made for viewers who value both mastery and meaning—art that holds up under scrutiny, invites conversation, and rewards repeat viewing.