BLOOM, DESPITE THE CHAOS
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...aiding my mother through her battle with cancer. The life I thought was about to take off was paused, and instead of ‘blooming’ out in the world, I went back to a more primal place and experienced a time that was both tremendous in its pain and in its beauty. The pain grew as she wilted, the beauty came daily in the depths of the most unconditional love and patience imaginable. Carving out moments to paint, my senses could only handle the more subdued palette I had evolved into – the blush of pink, which has always spoken to love, and the grey-blue that comes in the moments the sun is overshadowed. The loss that ended that time came as the chaos of our times started.
When all hope seemed lost; I was driven to find it in the paint. For myself, for those who needed a reminder that hope will rise and the heart can be pieced back together. The heart that then guides us forward. Across this collection, the heart emerges – one that’s been scraped, at times pulled apart, may still have holes, but is determined and always moving forward. The abstract flowers I create represent the human spirit – one that doesn’t want to look like it’s ‘supposed to’ and isn’t willing to conform. These symbols, along with the gritty textures and blue-grey hues capture the complex, layered process of living through chaotic times and emerging stronger, wiser. Powerful symbols of growth, resilience, and transformation — their changing forms reflects the individual’s journey. Showing them pushing to expand and always fighting to move forward. This collection explores the emotional shifts of confronting adversity and thriving amidst chaos without losing our sanity, our beauty.
The dynamic shapes and gritty backgrounds reflect the intensity of turbulent periods, while the subtle hues offer a respite for one’s senses. Charcoal, pencil, and horizontal lines reflect the sharing of stories that create a bond through hard times. As the symbols emerge from their landscapes, they signify the gradual unfolding of a more awakened self, one that, having weathered the storm, blooms stronger, with a new and unique depth, clarity, and grace. Both the flowers and the hearts symbolize the potential for the human spirit’s renewal, suggesting that, even in the most challenging moments, there is possibility for a life filled with more beauty and light. Creating forms somewhat realistic but open to interpretation invites the viewer to see that we can grow and transcend beyond what we thought was possible.
Through this body of work, I offer a vision of hope, one that, to survive, is needed. One that says by embracing change and confronting our own inner turmoil, while navigating the outer, we can emerge from the chaos of our times stronger; cultivating a more powerful beauty than the one that existed before.
Moving beyond the chaos, the collection transitions into a period where, despite the chaos in the world, one’s personal focus turns to love. The love one holds for themselves, the love one shares. It’s the only true way forward. To live without becoming overwhelmed by the world. The only way to hold onto the light. To live with, for, and in love.
HOPE LEADS
Hope. What happens when it falls? Buried. There at the bottom. Looking lost. It can come back. Like a seed. To shoot up, out of nowhere. hope* comes for the heart, the one that was torn apart by this world’s choices, by loss. The one that fought to re-form. To move forward. Hope scratched out and etched in. Not shouting. The one that says… *there are no guarantees, but there is always hope. But don’t be fooled. Hope isn’t passive. Far from it. The asterisk caveats that too. You have to fight for it and for the life that you want. For the way of life you believe in.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
Contact to purchase.
JUST BRING FLOWERS
When you don’t know what to do, or what to say, this says just bring flowers. It’s enough.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
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AFTER
Sometimes, happily ever after can only come after the chaos has passed. Once it does, happiness will fly forward. As if the wind itself is carrying it forward, and the storm is coming from it to clear the way. For a happiness that will never fall from its height because it’s not a fairytale. It’s been scratched out and etched in, not just formed on the surface.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
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THROUGH THE CHAOS
Sometimes, you have to let go and reset before you can be ready. Especially when the world is shifting and darkness is taking its last gasps. While it does that, we can’t barrel forward. This isn’t a sprint. Ready, Set, Go won’t work here. So we let go. Of the way things were. The limits this world put on everyone. Those that became engrained within us. We re-set. What we believe is possible. So we can be ready. To grow bigger than we ever could have before.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x30”x1.5”
$2,700
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AN OPENING
Ready. Flowing forward. Connected. To each other, to the beauty, the love, the organic energy that created our humanity. Through a portal that will lead us into a new reality.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x30”x1.5”
$2,700
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DESPITE THE CHAOS
Taking on the chaos, evolving because of it, love and beauty cannot be destroyed. Breaking through the cracks to create a monumental shift. The chaos covered by those pink lines? Magnetized, those can be lifted off when needed, so we can face the chaos head-on. That chaos, when confronted, like a house of cards, will crumble. Not just because beauty will crack the ground below it, but because of what it’s built out of…nothing real, nothing stable. An illusion, it will topple. Backwards. Into the past. Buried where it belongs. What will help? The stories of all the people it’s hurt. The pink lines create space here for them. The stories that will break through and turn hearts in their favor. Despite The Chaos, really, because of it, humanity’s beauty will evolve, expand, and grow. Into a form that’s stronger, grittier, wilder. Free of what tried and failed to constrain it. Then? …there will be so many flowers.
Acrylic on Canvas
48”x36”x1.5”
$4800
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TIPPING
This world is at a tipping point. That’s clear. Which way we go from here, not so clear. This piece says that the beauty, love, dreams, hope for better will overwhelm all else. We’re being guided. Through the darkness. Seen here through those smaller four pulling the larger two. Human or spirit, they feel angelic. Guardians. Leading the way. To change. Tugging us to tip. Out of the container that was comfortable, but could only hold a few, and was becoming too small. The container that would have kept us small. Will we fall flat? Not if we’re intertwined, connected, united as one.
Acrylic on Canvas
36”x48”x1.5”
$4800
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THE FLOWERS ARE COMING
A.K.A. beauty, goodness, abundance. Let go and flow forward and it will all flow to you. This is a reminder to do that, to have that.
Acrylic on Canvas
48”x36”x1.5”
$4800
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DREAMERS
This came right after California came under attack. In a monologue, more like a lecture, where a guy in a series said dreamers don’t go to California anymore, they go to Texas. He went on a tirade for oil, against clean energy. The Gen Z female lawyer opposite him didn’t say a word. Yeah, ok. Like that would happen. So I painted a response. Fast-forward. Someone pretending to be presidential claimed he attacked California. Said it with disgusting pride. Made me think. Exactly why does that make him so happy? Then it came to me. It’s because that is where the dreamers go. And THAT is who he’s attacking. Those who who can dream up what didn’t exist before. He and his kind can only destroy. They’ll never understand what moves those who are driven to create. Not just for themselves, for others. And another thing they don’t know – you can’t beat what you can’t understand.
Acrylic on Canvas
36”x48”x1.5”
$4800
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NEVERTHELESS, PERSIST
United, pushing forward. This is for everyone, not just women. For whatever gender anyone is, whichever anyone chooses. This is for all of us. For all that’s good, all that’s beautiful. Persist. For the sake of beauty.
Acrylic on Canvas
18”x24”x1.5”
$900
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GROW, TOGETHER
You can grow alone. You need to. Then? You meet someone and you can grow even more. Together.
Acrylic on Canvas
2X 18”x24”x1.5”
$1800
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TOGETHER, WE FIGHT
Wind-blown and war-torn but still beautiful. And tougher than ever. That’s what these flowers say about the energy of today. Despite everything out there in this world trying to deflate us, these two are supporting each other, fighting together, persisting, still believing in the beauty in this world.
Acrylic on Canvas
24”x30”x1.5”
$1850
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TOGETHER, WE WIN
These two Vs creating one W say we persevere. Hard to believe right now, but have hope, victory will be ours. Beauty and goodness always wins in the end.
Acrylic on Canvas
24”x30”x1.5”
$1850
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THE PERSISTENCE OF BEAUTY
Acrylic on Bristol Board
16”x20”
$400 Framed / $300 Unframed
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UNREDACTED
Two that are connected for all to see. Because love never has to be hidden.
Acrylic on Canvas
24”x30”x1.5”
$1850
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COMMUNITY
They can stop one of us, but they can’t stop all of us. Inspired by the courage of the flotilla for Gaza, the strikes to support them in Italy, the boycotts for free speech and equity, for those on the ground defending those humans being disappeared, the marches everywhere in support of everyone’s freedom. This is for empathy, comapssion, humanity.
Acrylic on Canvas
36”x36”x1.5”
$3600
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WHAT YOU DON’T SEE
This speaks to the way forward. How even when we’re not sure which way to go, we are being guided, driven even, by something deeper, by our heart and soul.
Acrylic on Canvas
36”x36”x1.5”
$3600
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BROKE FREE
This one broke free; breaking off near the root to do it. To break free from the past’s expectations, obligations, fears. To expand. Re-writing and crossing over lines. Not in haste. With an energy pent up, needing to be released. Out from the core. With that, the focus shifts. Away from the rearview, clouded and dripping. Forward, toward the door with the brightest opening. Straining to go where it leads.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
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THE DEPTH OF AN OFFER
Two offers are being made here. Both carry the depth created when hearts have weathered storms. Scraped, scratched – the one on the right has carved out a piece of their heart to offer it to the other. The one on the left, smaller but still tough, nearly buried in the turmoil, is scratching out their place in this world, ready to receive that offer. Not passively. They’re offering their love in return. To fill the hole that can’t be filled by another.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
Contact to purchase.
LOVE LANGUAGE
A love note written, wiped, re-written. Smudged. Messy. Torn. Lines pondered with thought and care. Coded for the two it's meant to be shared between. Understood only by them. Neither feeling the need to have their love understood by others. A story that starts the way it ended – with heart.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
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THE OUTLINE OF US
When you leave space for each other's stories, no one has to worry about disappearing, losing themselves. You can take the space and time needed to fill your lines, read each other’s, and find where your stories overlap.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x40”x1.5”
$3600
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HOLDING SPACE
Lines created and left open for all of the stories that need to be told. Signed, Love.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x30”x1.5”
$2700
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STAY PINK
A nod to Ponyboy staying gold since the 80s, Stay Pink reminds us to hold on to our humanity, our empathy. This piece acts as a how-to without being overwhelmed. Its there in the tough outer shell. Protection against what wants to turn us hard. A protection that allows the softness within to continue to bloom. The innocence, beauty that must thrive. Shared between two that have no hard walls between them. That can share what’s aching their hearts. This reminds us we need to speak what ails us with someone who understands. Sharing it to help get through it.
Acrylic on Canvas
30”x30”x1.5”
$2700
Contact to purchase.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Inspired by Zohran, Greta, Platner, and AOC. The new leaders we need. Ones with heart. Then there’s the big heart + all the others intertwined. I see those as all of us. The hearts that are rising, surging forward, creating a more compassionate world. Lines are baked in too. Creating space for everyone’s story. For humanity.
Acrylic on Canvas
36”x36”x1.5”
$3600
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WHEN HEARTS OPEN
Half of those blooms are sliding towards one, half towards the other. Giving and receiving in equal measure. That’s what happens when hearts open.
Acrylic on Canvas
36”x48”x1.5”
$4800
Contact to purchase.
All pieces are available for purchase and can ship worldwide. S&H is included in the Continental United States. Contact for S&H quotes outside of the U.S.