Artist statement

My paintings blend abstraction with figurative portraits. I consider painting this way an allegory for life. The abstraction represents the uncontrollable, the lurking chaos. I relish the challenge of the unpredictable which is why I love water media because you are never entirely in control of how it flows nor how it dries. The figurative parts symbolise what we can control, it’s what we do to try to make sense of the unpredictable. I consider my work contemporary magical realism. 

The love of challenge is also why there’s so much variety in my work, I work mainly in watercolour, but my portfolio also includes art made with oils, acrylics, gouache, embroidery, Indian ink, sumi-e ink, markers, pencils or a combination of thereof. While I use a variety of materials in each project my methodology is consistent.

So much of the contemporary art world seems to have been convinced that the aesthetically beautiful somehow is by default conceptually lesser than the visually unpleasant, and often without any proof. I want my work to excel both in technical skill and depth of meaning. 

I have never been good with words, so I started painting primarily to communicate what was in my head to the outside world. But of course it didn’t take long to realise I’m not the only one who feels that nobody truly sees us. We end up being so isolated in this world built for connection. So I’ve made it my mission to look deeper and see individuals complexly. 

I want to create art that is compassionate, understanding and forgiving. Art that sees the beauty in strangers, that makes people feel like they’re seen.