Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do. I am an artist living in LA. I moved here about two years ago from Chicago without a job, a car or really knowing anyone. But its worked out pretty well. I have my studio at home and paint mostly in the mornings. I make intimate, intuitive abstract paintings and drawings.
What is influencing your work right now? David Attenborough shows and documentaries. Farmers markets and flowers in my neighborhood. Early depictions of fireworks, weather, and natural phenomenon. Agnes martin writings. Indian miniature paintings of women. My cats. Family snapshots that hang in my studio.
What are you reading right now? A Philip Guston Memoir, Clarice Lispector and a book on Wabi Sabi that a friend sent me.
What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? I’m currently in two group shows: one just opened at Shrine in NYC and one in Iceland at Harbinger Projects curated by Brian Scott Campbell. There’s a newly launched website/project called flatfile.net that releases works on paper every week, occasionally I’ll have drawings available on there. This fall I’m really excited to attend The Lighthouse Works fellowship/residency (I’ve never attended a residency before!). I am also working towards an upcoming solo show.
Who are some of your favorite artists? I could make a very long list so I’ll just name 10: Miriam Cahn, Hilma af Klint, Odilon Redon, Tal R, Charles Burchfield, Jacob Lawrence, Spencer Carmona, Caleb Yono, Laurie Nye, and Torey Thornton.
What’s your absolute favorite place in the city/the world to be? Right now, I would say Joshua Tree. Maybe that’s cliche considering it’s a popular destination just outside of LA. But it’s so expansive, quiet, brutal and strange. It’s an inspiring place to be and I can’t say that about many places I visit.
Describe your current studio or workspace. I currently work out of a small upstairs room in my apartment. It’s a tiny space but I have great light and a view and I get to work whenever I want without having to travel. Despite the storage limitations I really love my setup. My partner is a painter as well and he works out of a room across from mine. I’ve found I work better with few people around versus larger studio communities. I get distracted easily with too many people around.
What is one of the bigger challenges you and/or other artists are struggling with these days and how do you see it developing? Figuring out how to make a living as an artist. Even half a living. Specifically for those of us not lucky enough to be independently wealthy or have financial support from family/spouse/etc. I think the practice of not paying artists is deeply entrenched in the art world and it infuriates me. It’s not anything new but there’s an imbalance that needs addressing. I am thankful for organizations like W.A.G.E whose mission is to seek out more sustainable labor relationships between artists and the institutions that contract our work.
If you had not become an artist what do you think you would be doing? Either study linguistics or start one of those senior dog farm sanctuaries.
What do you do when you’re not working on your art? I see a lot of movies, especially in the summer to escape the heat.
What are you listening to right now? Neil Young, Mercedes Sosa, Led Zeppelin, The Platters, and the S-Town podcast one more time because it was so good.
