"London Ash" Painting

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn back to the imagery and interests that shaped me early on as an artist: comic books, skateboard graphics, vintage toys, and old magazine clippings. No matter how much I’ve tried to distance myself from these influences they have always seemed to resurface. Instead of ignoring them, I’ve decided to embrace them. I use found images and objects that would have influenced me and rework them through abstraction, transformation, and personalization. The goal isn’t nostalgia, it’s reclamation. These images often carry a slight underlying theme of aggression. If you think about it, we are all exposed to some form of low-level hostility whether it be through politics, the media, or entertainment. Although this theme is prevalent in my work, I don’t glorify it. Rather, it is portrayed in an almost beautiful, abstract manner that makes it unrecognizable but still present. My work reflects this atmosphere but it is filtered through the lens of my childhood memory with an adult interpretation. The image is not handed over easily. It requires the viewer to examine the piece and hopefully come up with his/her own narrative. The style I’ve developed allows me to explore harsh or complicated subject matter in a way that’s unique, personal, and a bit playful. It’s experimental, bold, and exactly where I need to be.