What is my work about?
My recent work is a series of light sculptures in which I combine drawings with reflective surfaces and light. An infinite, luminous geography results, one that changes dramatically depending on the viewer’s vantage point.
The work is inspired by my relationship with disparate places—the rural natural setting of my upbringing and the chaotic city where I now live. I regard each with a sense of wonderment and see them as sharing systems and patterns. Visual and material vocabulary of the work is derived from both of these environments—the organic forms of the drawings are interrupted, multiplied and fused with that of the man-made. In this, the work is a psychological landscape, attempting to reconcile two seemingly dissimilar forces. It also touches on broader questions regarding the tenuous relationship that exists between the natural and artificial world.
Artist Statement
The tenuous relationship that exists between what is usually considered natural versus that which is artificial and the subsequent synthesis of these elements are ongoing explorations in my work.
In the visual arts, “Nature” is most often depicted as that which is untouched by the hand of man. My work extends the definition of NATURE to all things, including the man-made world, and consequently regards it with the same sense of wonderment. Working in series in a wide range of media, various hybrids of this synthesis and wonderment are created in my work. The approach may be combining organic materials and approaches with industrial materials, as with my drawings and light sculptures. Or it might be identifying and employing shared physical and visual patterns, as with the machine series, which you can see examples of on my website.
In my recent work, I have been making light sculptures that are a synthesis of drawings, glass mirror, and light.
Drawings are created with liquid graphite and a plastic composite paper. Visually and materially, they conflate the language of photography, drawing, and painting. To avoid controlling the image too much, brushes are rarely used. When the graphite puddles, it appears reflective—capitalizing on its mineral qualities. When watered down, it crawls across a surface, separating and leaving behind incidental patterns. By allowing the materials to move freely and collaborate with one another, these images, suggestive of nascent landscapes or aerial perspectives, can almost be seen to generate themselves.
Glass as a material is preferred for its architectural association and it’s resistance and cold quality, compared to other materials such as acrylic. This speaks of my affinity for an element of conflict in my work.
Similarly, I prefer working with cooler colors of LED lights, which are reminiscent of light found in commercial spaces, subways and factories.
Education
2002 New York Academy of Art, MFA, Magna Cum Laude Nyc NY
2000 Florence Academy of Art, Florence IT
1993 Auburn University, BFA, Drawing and Printmaking concentration, Auburn AL
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007
“Renegade”, New York Academy of Art Gallery, Nyc NY
2006
“The Calling”, Roq la Rue Gallery, Seattle WA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2016
“Enchanted”, Gallery ELL, curated by Melissa Staiger (forthcoming)
2015
“From New York with Love”, Red Head Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
“No Sleep Til Berlin”, Rhombus Space Pop-up, Mitte Berlin Germany
Momenta Benefit, Brooklyn NY
“Arts in Bushwick”, Storefront Bushwick
“Family Ties”, Gallery 500x, Dallas TX
“Heavy Metal”, Rhombus Space, Brooklyn, NY
“Just Mad6 Art Fair”, represented by TSA Gallery, Madrid Spain
“Good Morning Midnight”, Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark NJ (ongoing)
“New Work City”, Momenta Art, Brooklyn NY
2014
“Good Morning Midnight”, Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark NJ
“Trestle Winter Show”, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn NY
Featured Artist, Winter Issue, The Account Journal
“Flat Files Artists Exhibiton”, TSA Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Hrönir: Un-Lost Things”, Brooklyn Fireproof Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Exchange Rates International Art Exhibition”, Arts in Bushwick, Brooklyn NY
“The Search”, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“The Good the Bad the Ugly”, Local Project, LIC NY
“Itness”, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“(wo)manorial”, Online Exhibition
“A Human Extension”, Lodge Gallery, Nyc NY
2013
“Curate NYC”, curated by Sarah Newman, director of Contemporary Art at the Corcoran Museum
“Curate NYC”, curated by Sherry Dobbins, director of Public Art for the Times Square Alliance
Machine Show”, Hawkeye Crates, Brooklyn NY
“Collectively Assembled”, Arts@Renaissance, Brooklyn
“Quantum Effect”, Active Space Gallery, Brooklyn NY
2012
“Color Shift”, Billboard Projects, Atlanta GA
“Reflection”, Space Womb Gallery, Queens NY
“Wildlife in the Post-natural Age”, Brooklyn Historical Society, curated by Cara DeAngelis, Brooklyn NY
“Tell Me Now”, Grand Projects, Nyc NY
“(Re)production”, Grand Projects Nyc NY
2011
“Tart: Year 8”, Arts Renaissance Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Wish You Were Here”, Air Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Sketchbook Project”, Brooklyn Art Library, Austin Museum of Art, Space Gallery, Portland ME, Madrone Studios, San Francisco CA
Form/Space Atelier, Seattle WA
“Winter Exhibition”, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT
“Chain Mail”, Shoshanna Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica CA
2010
“Draw”, Mexico City Museo del Ciudad de Mexico
“Wish You Were Here”, A.I.R. gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Undercurrents: Experimental Ecosystems in Recent Art”, The Kitchen, Whitney ISP, Nyc NY
“tART at AIR”, Air Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Single Fare”, WTA projects, Brooklyn, NY
“New Work from Emerging Artists”, 3rd ward gallery, Brooklyn NY
2009
“tART at AIR”, AIR Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Protean Body”, Medialia Gallery, Nyc NY
“Draw”, Shooting Gallery, San Francisco CA
2008
“The Draw Show Tour”, Stolen Space Gallery, London BR
“Summer Salon”, Rabbit Hole Gallery, Brooklyn NY
2007
“New York Academy of Art Summer Exhibition”, Nyc NY
“Untitled Love Project”, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
“Draw Tour”, Gallery Lomabardi, curated by Erik Foss and Curse Mackey, Austin TX
“First Annual Contemporary Art International”, Salmagundi Club, Nyc NY
2006
“666”, Gallery de Jesus, Los Angeles CA
“Drawing Show”, Fuse Gallery, Nyc NY
“Undertow ll”, Roq la Rue, Seattle WA
“Undertow”, Aidan Savoy Gallery, Nyc NY
“Alumni Exhibition”, New York Academy of Art, Nyc NY
2005
“The Woods”, DFN Gallery, Nyc NY
“Animal Tales”, DFN Gallery, Nyc NY
2004
“Innocence Found”, DFN Gallery, Nyc NY
“Skies and Scapes”, DFN Gallery, Nyc NY
“Theatre of Selfhood”, Eyedrum Gallery, curated by Jerry Cullum, Atlanta GA
2003
“Space Invaders”, Fish Tank Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“SGF Project”, SGF Project Space, Atlanta GA
New American Painting, Exhibition in Print, Edition 46
2002
B Complex Gallery, Atlanta GA
Thesis exhibition, New York Academy of Art, Nyc NY
2001
Vox Populi gallery, Philadelphia PA
“Soho Myriad 25th Anniversary Auction”, Art Papers, Atlanta GA
Awards / Grants / Fellowships / Lectures
2015
Marble House Project, Fellowship Recipient
2014
Elkmont Residency, Falkville AL
2013
Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT
Hunter College, City University of New York, Visiting Artist Nyc NY
2011
Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT
2004
Ford Foundation Emerging Artist Finalist
2007
Hunter College, City University of New York, Visiting Artist, Nyc NY
2007
Runart Program, Rutgers University, Visiting Artist, Newark NJ
2006
Auburn University, Visiting Artist, Auburn AL
2002
Prince of Wales Fellowship, Normandy FR
2002
Scholarship Award, New York Academy of Art, Nyc NY
Publications / Bibliography
Art Fag City, “This Week’s Must-See”, TSA Flatfiles Show, November 10, 2014
Blackbook Magazine online, “Ones to Watch”, November 2014
Featured Artist, Winter Issue, The Account Journal
Huffington post, “Wildlife in the Post-natural Age” review, by Daniel Maidman
Art Info, “From Tom Sachs to Richard Prince, Top Ten things to do in New York”, On the Ground
“Loose Change Literary Magazine”, monthly featured artist, June 2011, vol. 1, issue 3
Whitney.org, 2010, “Experimental Ecosystems in Recent Art”
“NYFA, august 2010, “headlines: tart at air gallery”
New American Painting, Exhibition in Print, Edition 46
Black Book Magazine, July 3, 2008, Rohin Guha, “Sweet Tarts Go Down the Rabbit Hole”
Contemporary, Sept 2003, Krenz, Marcel. “Space Invaders: Six Painters and Two Sculptors Reconstructing Representation.”
The Stranger, dec 28 – jan 3, 2007, Jen Graves, “The Hidden Painters Who Insist on Mystery at Roq la Rue”
Atlanta journal and constitution, March 2003, Felicia Feaster, “Theater of Selfhood”
Curatorial
2013
“A-Side/B-Side”, Rhombus Space, Brooklyn, NY
2012
“Art Tlk”, The Conversation Channel, hosted by Pharrell Williams
2012
“Tell Me Now”, Grand Projects Nyc NY
2008
“Summer Salon”, Rabbit Hole Gallery, Brooklyn NY
Teaching
2013 Teaching Fellowship, Art Camp, Ages 6-12 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT
2012 Professor, Introduction to Drawing and Design, LIM College, New York, NY
Intern Host, New York, NY
2010 Assistant Professor, Advanced Sculpture and Drawing, New York Academy of Art
2006 Professor, Traditional Oil Painting Techniques, Abbey Road International Program, Florence Italy
Intern Host, New York, NY
1993 Curriculum Designer and Instructor for Summer Art Camp, Ages 6-8 and ages 8-11, City of Auburn Recreation, Auburn AL
2006-2013 Community Outreach, tART Collective, New York, NY
Professional Organizations
2014-present MAW Art Collective
2012-present Future Present Creative Assembly, Founding Member
2006-present tART Collective
Collections
Work held in numerous private collections