I was 16 when I realized Art was “my thing,” it was the first time I ever surprised myself by surpassing what I thought I was capable of. It was also when I began using Art—poetry, journaling, music, painting, street photography—as a way to cope with my emotions. These were the ways I started to express and understand my truest self, and I was unapologetically raw and unashamed, even when it felt dark or strange. Art has always been a therapeutic process for me, a force that has healed and made me feel alive in ways I can’t fully explain.

My work often involves creating characters, whether by transforming myself in a self-portrait or inventing someone new in my writing, to tell stories that help me process experiences I may not yet fully understand in my own life. These characters offer a depth of self-awareness and healing that I might not reach on my own.

My work often confronts life’s dark shadows, like navigating mental health battles or learning to break the chains of limitation that have been put on us by ourselves or others. I openly and vulnerably share my experiences not just to be seen but to allow others to be seen in the process as well. Through art, we find connection and a deep sense of understanding.

I’ve spent most of my adult life running from who I am because others said it wasn’t an option. But now, it’s no longer an option to be anyone other than exactly who I am—and that is an Artist.