Recent Work
Beta Bridge Photography Show
University of Virginia – McIntire School of Commerce
January 2021 – June 2021
This photography project focuses on the University of Virginia’s Beta Bridge and was inspired by frequent walks past the beloved landmark on grounds this past fall. These photographs capture Beta Bridge up close and separate it from its locational context. As a result, the colors, textures, and patterns of the paint layers are free to become abstract pieces of artwork all on their own. The dynamism, contrast, and intricacy of these images prompt the viewer to ponder the stories behind these paint topographies.
Considering the deeper symbolism of Beta Bridge, this indispensable structure reflects the evolution, messages, and generations of individuals that belong to and have, quite literally, left a mark on UVA. Beta Bridge symbolizes strength and solidarity, and its layers of paint likewise exhibit the beauty in the layers of the UVA community.
60% of sales from this show went towards the McIntire Food Pantry, and 10 panels have been donated to the McIntire Art and Commerce Committee’s permanent collection.
Selected Past Printmaking Projects
Spring 2020
Chaos | Intaglio Etching | 12″x6″ | Spring 2020
Chaos is an intaglio etching that deals with the themes of the unknown, loneliness, and the desire to find connection and meaning in human existence. In Hesiod’s Theogony, chaos is the origin of the universe, but unlike our quotidian usage of the word “chaos”, in this case it means “gaping” or space for things to happen in. In this piece, the imagery and air of mystery and ambiguity developed in the background provide an opportunity for discovery and reflection.
Bird Nest Head | Intaglio Etching | 12″x7.5″ | Spring 2020
Bird Nest Head is an intaglio etching that serves to some extent as a self-portrait or response to the “what’s in/on your head” prompt that I was never assigned but wanted to respond to. On one hand, while I have been told that my hair looks like a bird’s nest, I spend a lot of time thinking about what ‘hope’ means and how I can embody it in my life. Hope is symbolized by the baby birds, in accordance with the poetry of Emily Dickinson; indeed, my hopes and dreams are abundant and seem as insatiable as the gaping birds on my head.
Like the Generations of Leaves | Relief Print | 24″x14.5″ | Spring 2020
This piece is a linocut inspired by a reading from my Greek mythology class this semester in which the “lives of mortal men” are described as being “like the generations of leaves”. This work strives to illustrate the message of the literature and reflect upon the cycles of life and death that define human existence.
Heart in the Pom of my Hand | Relief Print | 27.5″x21.5″ | Spring 2020
Heart in the Pom of my Hand is a woodcut that stems from an image I’ve had in my head for a long time that in some sense captures my conception of love, as well as the notion of unconditional love. As human beings we expose ourselves in a beautiful and vulnerable way by giving pieces of our heart to others and forging meaningful and flourishing relationships. If we are lucky, we get to have love that runs through our veins and lasts our whole lives and beyond.
Ripples in Time | Relief Print | 8″x8″ | Spring 2020
This piece is a woodcut that deals with a variety of concepts including but not limited to the butterfly effect and the law of conservation of matter. The movement and symbolism of this piece seek to convey the idea that we can supersede our physical deaths of these lifetimes because (1) although each of our lives our fleeting, our mere existence creates ripples in the world around us, and (2) the atoms that compose our bodies will never die, since they have been and will continue to be elements of the universe we currently occupy.
The Giving Me | Relief Print | 6’x2′ | Spring 2020
The Giving Me is my life-size print from this semester, which I completed using linocut techniques. This piece deals with the themes of personal evolution and cycles of self-perception. The metaphor of cutting one’s self down and building one’s self back up is interpreted in a literal way in the imagery of this work.