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The transformative power that art yields and its ability to shift culture and reach across divides is deeply inspirational to my practice. The use of art as a mechanism for healing or to stimulate uncomfortable conversations is a force that drives my creations and is integral to my philosophy as an artist. 

 

When my husband Andy Williams was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on December 18, 2012, my role as his partner evolved to include that of a primary caregiver. Amidst the surreal reality of hospital living, our existing perceptions of life and death cycles were challenged and underwent a complete metamorphosis. 

 

During and after Andy’s untimely transition, my practice explored the dichotomies and rawness of intimacy, love, death, and illness. My response to this “new world” created a visual language that also paralleled my experiences as a queer femme; confronting narratives around gender, sexuality, and identity. 

 

Through the use of portraiture, I have formalized my practice to transcend my specific narrative by building a bridge of exploration surrounding our encounters with death and loss, what at a glance looks like the common human experience. Putting each story under a microscope to extract and highlight how vastly different these experiences are embodied depending on the uniqueness of each person’s story. I am interested in the inherent power of each individual’s identity, ancestral history, and passions that transform the world and shift culture. 

 

An explosion of color, detail, and three-dimensional textures draw the observer in to personify this world on a visceral level, by inviting the viewer to explore imaginative landscapes that can be transformed through the lens of their own experiences. Being raised in rural Vermont, the forest was my childhood playground. I formed an understanding that animals and all life on this planet are equal to humans. I use imagery of nature as a tool to reference certain characteristics in relation to the painting’s narrative, as well as a reminder that humans are a part of this natural world; not a dominant force. A clear example of this is Canadian Geese as a recurring image in my work. Canadian Geese are regarded as some of the most loyal companions within the animal kingdom. They mate for life and if their partner falls ill they stay behind from the flock never leaving their mates' side until they have transitioned. This imagery is symbolic and further exemplifies the beauty and complexity after tending to your loved one through illness.

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