a pacific northwest designer, artist and mother.

With a background as a designer in the Pacific Northwest, I have spent the last 15+ years crafting human experiences in space. Each of my projects tell a rich story that is built around history, place and community. Understanding people is a fundamental part of my design work and something that I enjoy exploring more intimately within my art.

In my art, most of which are portraits, I look to document the unique story and set of experiences leading to that moment -exploring both strength and vulnerability in the people I draw. Most people carefully choose what portion of themselves they show in order to craft the narrative they feel comfortable presenting. I look to portray the space between their crafted story and hesitation in my art.

Recently, in my paintings, I have turned the lens onto myself and my family. Drawing inspiration from our everyday life and experiences. My family is a blend of cultures. My paternal grandparents were immigrants from Italy. On my mother's side, Native American and Danish. I fell in love with an African American man and we had two kids. Through my paintings I explore the complexities and beauty of blending cultures within the context of everyday life. The love and chaos we share inside our home. The moments outside our home, where we are met with curiosity, commentary, sideways looks and even hostility. I want to highlight the humorous moments of raising kids, the discomfort when you don't clearly fit in, and the mundane moments.

I find that I am no different from the people in my work, and like them, choose which aspects of myself to show, and am often drawn to the individuals who reflect a moment, characteristic or experience of my own that I would otherwise be reluctant to share outside of my art.