As a visual artist from New Orleans, my portraiture is both a personal and political reflection, more so a critique of American society as seen through the lens of a minority millennial living in the urban South. My work is rooted in the complexity of human experience, especially within environments shaped by history, struggle, and resilience.

While classical oil painters influence my approach, I translate those traditions into my own language using acrylic and satin paint. I’m drawn to the meditative layering process as opposed to blending, as it allows me to build depth and transition in skin tones, revealing not just surface likeness but the internal wounds people carry. Every value, every shift in tone, is intentional. These layers mirror the emotional and psychological layers we all accumulate through time, trauma, healing, and change.

Biblical parables and literary symbols often find their way into my compositions, reimagined to speak to contemporary life. These references help frame modern experiences within timeless narratives. This offers commentary, reflection, and sometimes critique. I tend to focus closely on facial expressions and hands in my work. To me, they are among the most powerful non-verbal storytellers, capable of holding volumes of emotion. The features and appendages can portray grief, hope, joy, and defiance. All, without needing a single word.

New Orleans shapes everything I do. The sound, the heat, the tension, the beauty. My practice sits at the crossroads of personal memory and collective experience. I paint to explore identity, question systems, and make space for stories that might otherwise go unheard. As an art educator, I remain committed to making art that engages, reflects, and teaches. The ten years spent in the classroom set the foundation for how to create transformative experiences through visuals. Southern art and portraiture have driven the vision that I would like to project through my art and actions.

In the end, I want the work to feel honest. Everyone has different lived experiences, but whether relatable or not, I want you to feel the honesty. Not perfection, not reality, but solely honest. Because in the layers of color, gesture, and symbolism, there's always something deeper waiting to be seen.