Pairs with:

Statement from the Artist:

Although I do not come to this practice as a "young artist" in the traditional chronological sense, I am still quite new to found object art. This perspective makes the rapid evolution of my work feel particularly intense. My earliest creations sit only four to five years apart from my most recent sculptures, yet looking at them side-by-side, I see a significant progression in my visual language, technical confidence, and conceptual intent.

In my early work, exemplified by "Ginger the Ironwoman" (2022, the year I first started creating found object sculptures), my approach was heavily additive and focused on lighthearted character-building. Coming to the medium with fresh eyes, my main impulse was to create whimsical and fun pieces through a dense, maximalist accumulation of old domestic discarded items. "Ginger" relies on a complex, multi-layered assembly of disparate elements; a cracker tin torso, a Schilling spice container, vacuum tube ears, an old fishing reel, mechanical hand-crank arms, etc. It is a colorful piece that delights in playful, busy storytelling to construct a joyful persona.

Over time, my focus has shifted away from pure lightheartedness toward pieces that challenge the viewer to connect with a deeper message. "You're Just My Type, Swept Off Her Feet" (late 2025) demonstrates this dramatic maturation toward intentional restraint, intimacy, and a more visceral, emotive expression. Rather than relying on a complex cluster of numerous parts, this newer sculpture utilizes just a few iconic, industrial shapes to evoke a profound psychological and relational state. A pair of locking vise-grip pliers forms a pair of dynamic, swooping torsos in a frozen gesture of romance and vulnerability, anchored to a warm, circular wooden base. The dual heads are formed from vintage textured, alphanumeric IBM Selectric typewriter elements, leaning in together, as if locked in an intensely intimate embrace and kiss. While my underlying dedication to giving forgotten materials new life remains unchanged, my practice has fundamentally matured. I have moved beyond playthings and progressed toward crafting powerful, streamlined visual statements that communicate deep connection, tension, and sharp conceptual meaning through clean lines and confident minimalism.