Come 2 Papa (OctoBird Family series)
2019
Acrylic paint, charcoal, and paint markers on canvas paper
30”W x 42”H
With multiple arms and legs, this OctoBird Dad gestures ominously pulling the viewer in while carrying a decapitated juvenile. Recently while bird watching, I saw a Grackle eating another bird’s young. Papa has an exposed tinkered heart and one foot is raised atop the beginnings of an upside down exploding nuclear bomb. The contained rawness of the violence here is reminiscent of Goya’s black paintings. The text - Come 2 Papa draws the audience in like watching a train wreck. This painting is part of a series exploring healing from familial interpersonal trauma.

Mine (OctoBird Family series)
2019
Acrylic paint, charcoal, and paint markers on canvas paper
30”W x 42”H
With multiple arms and legs, this OctoBird Mom dances while gesturing greedily pulling words tightly in. The text warns - All Mine / Beware Your Blood My Water. Her heart spirals endlessly into infinity. Symbolically this water lit environment is like a womb. This painting is part of a series exploring healing from familial interpersonal trauma.

Take Flight (NYC MTA Metrocard miniature painting)
2023
Acrylic paint, inks, markers, pencils, gesso on found used NYC MTA Metrocard
3.5”W x 2.25”H
These miniature paintings on found NYC MTA Metrocards are interactions inspired by text and design originally printed on each card. The reverse side reads - Get a grip and / TAKE - Flight. The word - Flight - is improvised from the classic MTA logo font, and is cradled by a pair of wings.

SMH Not Again Raven (Conversation painting) Date: 2022
Medium: Mixed media, acrylic paint, markers, pencils on canvas
Dimensions: 12” square
Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
This Raven person sits cross legged on a stool with a slash of background light highlighting their gesture and expression. In an expression of disbelief Raven bows her head to her hand to shake. On her arm is tattooed a clock with two hands showing a personality that respects time. The text says the expression SMH (Shake my head) Not Again in a gesture of disapproval. This painting explores how love and relationships can have aspects that are disappointing.

Yeah No (Conversation painting)
Date: 2023
Medium: Acrylic paint, markers, inks, pencils on archival mixed media paper
Dimensions: 9”W x 12”H
Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
This male figure stands firm with his right hand on his hip. The ground slopes diagonally growing green up the right side indicating a steady climb is to come which takes perseverance and direction. The power of this character’s agency glows in the background vermillion all around him. The text calmly proclaims - Yeah No.

Maybe? Canary (Conversation painting)
Date: 2022
Medium: Mixed media, acrylic paint, markers, pencils on canvas
Dimensions: 12” square
Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
This Canary person is amidst a sea of swirly lily flowers. She holds her hand closely under her beak chin stroking her face in a gesture of pondering. The text reads - MAYBE - ?. The letter Y in MAYBE repeats YYYYY emphasizing a pause or hesitation to decide, along with the pronounced question mark. On her arm tattoo is a diamond form representing resilience and beauty. This painting explores how love and relationships can have aspects that are indecisive.

EMPower
Date: 2018
Medium: Acrylic paint, charcoal, pencils on canvas
Dimensions: 18” W x 24”H
Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
The word EMPOWER bursts up and away forming the body of a falcon launching into flight. The first part of the word empower “EM” crystallizes igniting inside a spreading red ruby. Then a bright yellow green burst of energy propels the rest of the word “POWER”. The word “POWER” forms the body of a flying falcon, some of the fastest and most agile birds in the world. This falcon spreads its fully empowered wings to launch forward embarking upon a journey across the sky.

Conversation paintings (group of 6)
Date: 2022, 2023
Medium: Acrylic paint, markers, inks, pencils on archival mixed media paper
Dimensions: 9”W x 12”H each
Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY

This grouping of six Conversations paintings forms a visual poem on different responses to love. The texts read - Next Time / Never Enuf / Yeah No / Maybe - Maybe Not / Please / Me - Not Me. The female character in Next Time retreats from the scene into the surrounding dark walls. A woman says Never Enuf as she stretches upwards and proactively places on a blindfold. A man says Yeah No and stands his ground. In a sphere of indecision a female character considers Maybe - Maybe Not. A female character takes a hesitant step forward with hands outstretched and tenderly says - Please. An aspect of one woman’s identity holds another up against a wall and says - Me - Not Me.