My work hinges on the ambiguous space between fact and fiction. In a world where facts are disputed, virtual experiences are convincingly real, and social media influencers sell contrived realities, my paintings address the subjectivity of perceived truths.

We live in an time where truth is manipulated to such an extent that the very nature of the word is obscured. We hold truths to be incontrovertible, but find they are at denied by multitudes of the population, who hold opposite views. I integrate disparate formal elements—representational and abstract—in my work in order to exemplify the distinction between the real and the contrived.

Art has always been a function of the time and place of creation. As the mediums of photography and film emerged and developed, artists responded in countless ways. In my painting process, I peer into our reliance on imagery – such as those used in mass media, advertising, and social media – as factual representations despite their fallibility to deliver the truth.

Contemporary digital media are so lifelike and convincing that they evoke similar psychological responses as experiences with the natural world. However, by removing context, distorting imagery, and rushing the viewing process (think social media), and with the absence of a personal memory, our perceptions are based on an abstract representation of reality, creating a shallow experience. I juxtapose seemingly unrelated imagery and paint application methods as a way to exemplify the discontinuity of social interaction and distortion of truth in the face of digital culture.

In my work, transparency and masking techniques reveal multiple layers of paint and direct viewers to the abstract building blocks of the piece, illuminating the artmaking process as a subject in itself. By visualizing the formation of the piece and inserting one’s own meaning, the viewer’s engagement is an essential part of each painting which brings the work to completion.