Growing up in the city was about
seeing the ladders too close to the street,
mosquitoes eating me alive in the humid heat.
It was a wet cold that didn’t come around often, but when it did, it was harsh.
Then it was small hands, the calloused hands,
the hands that built and the hands that held.
It was walls that whispered stories of those who lived
and floors that upheld the feet of generations.
Gunshots but no sirens.
It was knowing who did it, knowing who would be missed,
knowing that even in the breaking, the pieces still belonged to us.

A community is not just a collection of people—it is a living, breathing thing, held together by each individual's expressions, care, and presence. The energy of a child’s hand, the wisdom in an elder’s talk, the dance exchanged in passing—they all contribute to something larger than themselves.

The materials of our daily lives hold just as much weight. The walls of the home that have cradled generations, the chairs that bear the weight of conversation, the objects passed down or left behind—they inform us of the culture surrounding them. Of the people. Of the homes. Of the environments. These everyday items are art in their own right, telling the history, culture, and love of those who interact with them. The labor and memories. The home is where this love is housed, where both people and objects find meaning in relation to one another.

I am drawn to objects that are often overlooked - items that are easily accessible yet embedded with memory and experience. These objects are functional, used in gatherings, celebrations, and everyday moments, but they also serve as witnesses to life unfolding. A plastic chair is never just a chair; it is where someone sat to braid hair on a front porch, where a friend rested after a long day, where a child climbed and played. The red Solo cup is not just a disposable object—it carries the imprint of the hands that held it, the echoes of laughter and conversation, and the residue of a shared experience.

Through lithography, painting, ceramics, and most recently sculpture, I explore these relationships—between people, objects, and the spaces they inhabit. My work highlights the beauty of the ordinary and the ways we create meaning through what we hold onto. It is a reflection of my community, a tribute to the people and materials that make it whole.