Through my work, I explore the dualities of consumerism and conservation, reflecting on and challenging the ways in which the traditional idea of the American Dream intersects with our environment and my own cultural hybridity. Having lived in the beauty and abundance of New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, and now Sacramento, as a second-generation American my experiences in these diverse landscapes have given me a deep respect for nature while also revealing the harm caused by systems of colonization and capitalism that have shaped the storied American West.

Rooted initially in photojournalism, my practice has since expanded to include painting, where I use the environment as both subject and collaborator. In my abstract works, I often integrate repurposed materials, allowing natural elements like heat, rain, and wind to shape the process and layers of my work. By blurring the line between artist and environment, I seek to examine how climate directly influences my work.

In my representational works, I focus on our artificial environments and dominant macro-culture, and the detrimental effects they have on the natural world, often highlighting the absurdity and exploitation embedded in these systems. At the core of all of my work is the theme of sustainability, which is deeply personal and influenced by my father’s journey to America and his career in science and clean energy.

Ultimately, my work is meant to to create conversation and community and invite moments of reflection on what it means to preserve the places we call home and the stories that connect us.