I am a multidisciplinary artist and art historian . I  paint, draw and photograph primarily  portraits in style that range from semirealistic  and photorealistic to abstract figurative.  Many of my portraits are characterized by their mystical subject matter drawn from the natural world, such as the moon, stars, birds, butterflies and flowers. Watercolor is my preferred painting medium because of its luminosity and ethereal quality.  However, I use whatever media best expresses the mood and visual quality I wish to achieve. I’m  interested in the psychological and emotional possibilities of portraits and in exploring the gaze (the social, psychological and power dynamics in looking) and subjectivity of my figures. Additionally, my art serves as a place   to explore spiritual principles, such as the truth that we are all divine, which I represent with halos.

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I have painted and drawn more than one hundred self-portraits.  Through self-portraits, I have  found a safe place to express my vision and change my sadness into joy and my insecurities into confidence. In this way, my self-portraits have been transformative.  Ultimately, I am interested in depicting underrepresented subjects  in my artwork, people who have been marginalized or rendered invisible by their perceived unworthiness.

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Much of my artwork is about healing and represents a visual embodiment of love.  The writing of Black lesbian Audre Lorde inspires me. She said , “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” The creative process is my activism, a way to preserve myself and prevent myself from being eaten alive. When I depict myself and other LGBTQ people, I am performing a transgressive act. My message of self-love is my gift to those who look at my artwork.

 

My series  Eternal Flames: African American LGBTQ Historical Figures exemplifies this intention. It is a collection of portraits of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people who have contributed significantly to the fields of visual arts, music, literature, community activism and politics. The series honors and celebrates the lives, courage and brilliance of important contributors to American culture and politics , such as Audre Lorde, Pauli Murray, Marsha P. Johnson, Gladys Bentley and Bayard Rustin. It also introduces audiences to people who often don’t receive the acclaim they so deserve.