Born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania. Currently living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Group Exhibitions: |
In the city, any city, there exists a certain strength and vulnerability. Both revered and despised in a single breath, the city in all its cultural saturation embodies a constant confrontation of extremes: the rich with the poor, the unified and the isolated, etc. Within this fascinating tension exists an ongoing sense of possibility and hope, while tolerance acts as its natural foundation. I’ve always had a deep affection, optimism, and respect for the city and the dwellers of all sorts that define it. Not surprising, urban life and the culture and creativity that radiates from it has been influential to both my technical approach and the subject matter I approach. I emphasize what I see. Rhythm. Color. Jagged shapes. Aggression. Depth. Motion. Music. I incorporate these elements by way of hard angles and brushstrokes, intense contrasts, and fragmented space, at times reminiscent of Cubism or graffiti art. I amplify light and manipulate depth, distorting forms into passing impressions that pull and push between abstract and realistic. My subject matter ranges from distant cityscapes to intimate human portraits, all of which is based upon my experience as both a resident and a traveler. In my recent body of work, I have spotlighted New York City, New Orleans, and San Juan, Puerto Rico as cultural centers worth exploring. Paying particular attention to public cultural spaces, local nightlife, and subsequently the architecture that enables it all, I attempt to narrate the parallel energy between these physical and cultural structures and the people dwelling within them. My goal is to illustrate a sense of balance and unity in an environment often thought to be the opposite. In any scene, whether it’s solemn or celebratory, the tone is consistently vibrant and optimistic. |
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