Artist Statement

Through my installations, I build imagined domestic spaces and fantastical tableaus composed of the objects that occupy these spaces. The Theatre of the Domestic is the title of an exhibition by Betty Woodman from 2016. This title describes a concept I have embraced in my work. I define the Theatre of the Domestic as a tableau or stage-like arrangement of objects found in the home that builds a visual or psychological narrative.

My work embodies notions of still-life, using every-day inanimate objects to build context and content. The addition and representation of household items, found furniture, fruit, and plants build a three-dimensional composition settled in a domestic space, prompting the viewer to ask questions and build their own story. I’m intrigued by the domestic space as a place of intimacy, vulnerability, and curiosity. Building domestic spaces as installation art is a way to turn what is private into something that is public. It offers a shared vulnerability and connection with the viewer.

Play is evident in my work through the color palette and whimsical quality of the shapes. It serves a function of both performance and research. I use play in the construction of my ideas, execution of form, and the content of my work. Through play, I dream up these imagined spaces and bring them to fruition. I choose primary colors for their ability to be upfront and frank in the way they present themselves. They catch the eye, like an actor’s makeup on stage. Primary colors build dramatic space.

The vessels with flowers symbolize fragility and resilience, a quality that is present in both ceramics and plants. They are ephemeral by nature yet permanent when made of ceramic. I’m drawn to the metaphorical quality that this duality provides, questioning different functions of strength and fragility.

I illustrate a narrative through everyday objects, color, and potted plant forms in a dream-like representation of the home. My work uses the Theatre of the Domestic to explore issues surrounding the home, notions of play, fragility, and resiliency.