What does it mean to feel both native and invasive at the same time? What is the course of action taken to feel like we belong? My practice explores the idea of acceptance and the chaotic balance to achieve it. I use my own experiences of the stranger than fiction "Florida Man" narratives from my upbringing in South Florida, where I express and address chaos and satire through autobiographical allegories. The cast of characters I include are caught in the last moments of a seemingly eternal battle, puppet-like, center stage, unable to control their fate, and ready to surrender. Confusion and desperation within their surroundings is disguised and blanketed under brightly colored distractions, becoming a blur between reality and fabricated environments. These pieces are not meant to be sensational, but reflective pieces that will adapt and evolve the more time you spend with them. The viewer, like the characters in the works, can embrace ideas of resilience and adaptability.
My work is inspired by bestiaries, illuminated manuscripts, Natural History, vintage freak show banners, Art History, and tacky tropical patterns.