Artist Statement:

As a born and raised Appalachian, I have grown a fondness for the more gritty, handmade, and folksy spirit of the region. Being Appalachian, at its core, is about having a fighting spirit, making your voice be heard no matter what, learning to be loud and proud of who you are and where you came from. I strive to carry that resistant and defiant attitude though my practice, and my work, using taboo topics and harsh criticisms to shed light on injustice or marginalized communities who are often forgotten about. I do not want my work to just be a pretty picture that means nothing and collects dust on a wall. Most of all, I want to create a dialogue with my viewers about how they chose to interact with the world and other people. My artistic approach is one of blending the high-art techniques of ceramics with the raw, gritty aesthetic of graffiti, traditional tattoos, and folk art, resulting in a fusion that continually strives to redefine conventional narratives within the art world. In my work, I wish to create thought provoking sentinels, which toe the line between serious reflection and humorous insight, which challenge my audience to question the boundaries we place between the sacred and the mundane. My work serves as a canvas where the traditional and the contemporary meet. I like to invite my viewers into a space where the boundaries of artistic categories blur, encouraging a reflection on the ways in which art can simultaneously inform and disrupt societal norms. I choose to draw inspiration from a diverse array of sources—ranging from literature and pop culture to art history and archeological artifacts. In a world where art often finds itself categorized and compartmentalized, I like to challenge these boundaries, exploring how art interacts with politics and society at large.