Artist Statement

I have always considered myself a multimedia artist. There are so many fascinating and wonderful practices out there that I have found myself unsatisfied with sticking to a single avenue. Originally trained as a 3D animator, I found the practice soured for me quickly. Without being able to draw or manipulate a model with my hands, I found it frustrating. I began to switch to other mediums, and continued to strengthen my drawing abilities. I began to chart a new path in fiber arts and produced art dolls of varying shapes and sizes, which I call Omni Dolls.

Born from a simple doodle done in high school, over the years they have taken on a life of their own. The dolls consist of a yarn ball head with button eyes, stitched together bodies and pipe cleaner limbs. Simple in form, but complex in design. They have a cute but creepy aesthetic that invokes childhood wonder and in some cases, mild unease. Inspiration for their designs comes from my own autistic mind and hyper fixations. The dolls can be molded and shaped into just about anything; and I use them as a source of emotional expression.

Upon returning to school, I took the basic form of the Omni Doll and played with it. Producing the doll in many different ways: from jewelry, to glass and sculpture, to animation. The first Omni Doll, Robbie, was the basis for most of these. While exploring how I could reimagine Robbie, I discovered other subjects in both my glass, sculpture and jewelry work. My other pieces saw subjects both bright and colorful as well as dark and decrepit. A pattern often reflected in my own life experiences.

Inspired by artists like Kim Cridler, Judith Schaechter, and more recently Grant Turner, I find myself wanting to emulate aspects of their work into my own. I hope to in the future combine sculptural, glass and jewelry into something only I can create. The journey of my life as a neurodivergent, navigating the world through different hardships and triumphs. A testament to the strength of both myself and others like me, while not hiding the struggles we face. In a world trying to demonize and erase autism, erase queer and transpeople, I want to show that we’re not only here to stay but a force to be reckoned with.