I use architecture as a language to express the loss we experience and our need for recollection. My paintings are made using building materials and mixed media and represent dwellings designed for safety and comfort that eventually break down. The physical deterioration of structures become spaces to run away from; meaning and identity become distant or distorted memories. I layer fragmented materials collected through the years—some new, some old. Oftentimes, after I finish a painting and step back, I see memories emerge in the work. There I am, excavated, my own life uncovered through the painting. It is like finding an old photograph from childhood. Then, questions begin to surface and I dig deeper.
