About
As an artist, losing a sibling is like working with and being limited by half of a color palette. It is possible, but always you are aware of the potential that is missing. You dip your brush in water obscured by grief and the bright colors never seem to reach their most vibrant and luminous luster. I am eternally grateful for all of the love, laughter, and happiness my brother brought to my life. My life now has a different meaning and purpose than it once did. I hope through my personal work, to bring awareness to the wondrous person that he is and all that he has done for me; despite everything that he endured.
MY WORK
My early work focused on immigration, and was rendered in the forms of stamps. In this series I explored the irony that a one-cent stamp has more freedom and flexibility to travel across borders than a person. As my own immigration case grew more complex due to political and bureaucratic pitfalls, I utilized my art to shed light on the plight of immigrants in order to affect positive change. My alien number became my signature, and visa numbers, lawyer names; form data and expiration dates were incorporated into my images.
Recently, I began to expand my oeuvre to pay reverence to fallen heroes through portraiture. I often find myself focusing on icons and also have begun to direct my attention to portraits of individuals who have passed away, both children and adults in an attempt to create pieces that capture their essence and the important highlights of their lives. In this body of work, the imagery is self-consciously comprised of, and yet obscured by, a foundation of geometric patterns. I employ this tool to contrast the rigorous perfection of order against the unrestrained freedom and spirit of childhood.