Artist Statement

My artwork contains duality: black and white; loss and hope; protest and conformity. I use deep, saturated  tones -- inviting but adversarial, contributing to the tension within the painting. The combination of acrylic, chalk and oil pastel within the artwork can be considered confrontational in their intensity.

The works are multi-layered, have subtle beauty, intensity and have been described as unsettling. My influences include Jean Michel Basquiat and Salvador Dali and as I mature artistically, am more influenced by Marcus Jansen.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, my upbringing in the Southeast area of the city has been a great influence on my work. My paintings explore unsolved questions regarding racial inequity, class, politics and religion. However, my dominant lens will always be that of the often overlooked and underestimated kid keenly aware of how the outside world views people who look like him.

I seek to create art that makes us think about ourselves and our world in a different light. My paintings are raw and have a roughness to them. What they are about may not be obvious at first glance but I’m hoping that you take time to explore the detail that gives the artwork a deeper meaning.