This past year, my artwork has focused on identity. To me, identity is multifaceted –– it has many different meanings, interpretations, and applications. I use identity to express the feelings, thoughts, and emotions of myself and others. I work primarily in drawing and painting, specifically in graphite, colored pencil, and acrylic usually. Through a mix of collage, graphite, acrylic, and various pencil and colored pencil techniques, I am able to relay my interpretation and idea of identity. My own identity has been a struggle for me to come to terms with at times, but I use my own artwork to work through and express my thoughts, feelings, and emotions that come along with this struggle.

My own identity revolves around three main topics: the Who, the What, and the Where. The Who aspect of my identity is represented by my own family, which consists of three people: my mother, my father, and my twin sister, Zoe. The What is defined by my own idea of growth, prosperity, and flourishment as an individual through the acceptance of my own identity. The Where is portrayed as my understanding of my sense of home pictured as Chicago and Baltimore, and what relates to this home. My art is a narrative of my own experience and personal story. I strive to make artwork not only that I am proud of, but artwork that tells my own personal story. I’ve dealt with many struggles revolving around identity, and through my art I can come face to face with these problems and resolve the bigger issues: with the portrayal of identity, I can tell my story, share my truths, struggles, and accomplishments all through single pieces of art. My goal in making art is not to please others, but to tell a story about myself: who I am, what I stand for, where I am from, and where I will go from here.