Artist Statement

I need to see what my emotions would look like if they were pulled out of my body and put on display for observation. My soft sculptures transform the mental and physical challenges of psychological afflictions into soft, bodily portraits. I draw inspiration from how my emotions affect my life, and how they physically manifest within my body. I work with fiber because it invokes a sense of intimacy and comfort in contrast to the disagreeable feelings of anxiety, chaos, and overwhelm that inspires my work.

Repetitive techniques like netting, sewing and felting allow me time to contemplate my feelings throughout the process of creating. These actions support the theme of coping mechanisms through emotional turmoil in my work. In order for the viewer to access the emotional experiences I am expressing, I create visible distance between the piece and myself through abstracted self imagery. Although my pieces are occasionally literal self-portraits, they are mostly abstractions that reference the human body through scale, palette and shape. My work is often installed using methods of hanging so that the pieces are relatively at a human-like height, inviting the observer to physically come face to face with the emotions being expressed. By making metaphorical soft sculptures that express my internal experience, I create an opportunity where viewers can relate to and confront their own feelings.