least interesting thing about you
Storytelling is central to my artistic practice. I approach art as a means of listening, documenting, and amplifying the lives of others. Much of my work begins in the everyday spaces of Los Angeles, notably on the Metro lines running through the city. The train is a place where strangers, for only a moment, share pace and direction. It is these moments that I find an opportunity to observe, to talk, and to understand. I carry a sketchbook with me constantly, capturing the posture and expression of the people I encounter. These sketches become starting points for conversations that lead to personal histories, passing thoughts, and recognition. From these interactions, my art takes shape.
My mediums vary depending on the story I want to tell. Acrylic painting allows for emotional depth, especially as I have explored my own internal stories and memories. Having grown up on Studio Ghibli, Calvin and Hobbes, and Usagi Yojimbo, I have developed a deep, rooted love for sequential works that amplify movement and breath.
A favorite of my works is an ongoing series of drawings on “My Name is” stickers. I have a huge appreciation for the graffiti and murals that color my urban landscape, an accessible gallery to anyone who takes the time to observe the intricate, rich history of humans who want to leave an impact. Graffiti shouts from rooftops and street signs: “I was here”. My series of ‘slaps’ emulates that same ethos. They act as small portraits proclaiming my existence, only to be weathered away.
The themes I return to often center on emotional journey, identity, and the complexities of masculinity. I am particularly interested in the soft underbelly of masculinity, the tenderness, fear, pride, and vulnerability that are rarely shown publicly. Many of the individuals I meet navigate these tensions quietly. My goal is to give form to their interior worlds, which is why I have begun collecting a library of written and recorded interviews that I plan to turn into a body of work spanning different media.
