B. 2000

 I have always been struck by how many people carry a negative outlook on the future. As an artist, I see it as our responsibility to propose alternative paths forward and visions of a future worth striving for. If we, the artists, cannot chart a course toward something better, who will?

My work is guided by the classical Platonic triad of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. While “good” can be incredibly nuanced and “truth” always seems to shift as we learn more, beauty remains an elemental, almost instinctual force. I believe that art, especially oil painting, can offer a kind of timeless dynamism, holding together the paradox of constant change with the anchoring stillness of an image. In a world where everything is in flux, painting can become a stable yet living bridge.

My goal I am striving for is to create a cohesive world through my paintings where these ideas can exist, interact with each other, and enter the societal discussion

My academy training has been invaluable for developing technique and discipline, but it also made me keenly aware that technical prowess alone is never enough. I want each painting to have a reason to exist—an evocative purpose that resonates with the viewer and points toward a shared vision of our collective future. For me, this is what keeps painting vital and urgent: it can hold out a beacon of beauty in a world that often forgets how crucial beauty really is.

I believe artists have a responsibility to share their work and ideas with the world, regardless of how they’re received. Because of this, I am encouraging myself to be more vulnerable—appearing on podcasts, speaking at art organizations, and producing my own videos—to document and share my artistic journey. I’m comfortable on camera and articulate in expressing my vision, qualities I think make me an effective advocate for both this organization and contemporary realism. To me, being an artist is about far more than painting pretty pictures. I see a real opportunity to revitalize the art of storytelling through painting and spark a meaningful movement.