How did you start getting interested in arts? What motivates you to create?

Like many artists, my love for art began as a child. I am very lucky to have parents who were really supportive. I took extra art classes.

I love creating artwork that viewers can feel a sense of energy. I like art that allows viewers to get excited about and use their imagination. I am inspired by textures and colors.

What are your main influences and how do you approach your subject matter? 

I am influenced by Susan Best’s book, Visualizing Feeling: Affect and the Feminine Avant-garde. For me, the idea of affect as a means to understand art in an intelligent way is freeing. It means that the viewer can simply pay attention to their body or their feelings in a space and use it to not understand the work, but also have a relationship with it.

My work explores tactility, and its ability to immaterially communicate feeling. I use the playful movement of a body to increase energy, release positive endorphins and improve memory.

What are you trying to communicate with your art?

I want to use the movement of an individual’s body to empower their imagination. I often find that my bright colors and patterns remind individuals of an experience or an object. I want people to be empowered to make their own connections when looking at my artwork. Simply looking and observing abstract art is play.

To what extent does the pandemic influence your depiction of art? Does it generate new inspiration?  

The pandemic made me see how important in person art experiences really are. I think that the tangible surface of a work can communicate things that virtual screens cannot.

The pandemic didn’t influence the content of my artwork, but it did influence my speed. I had projects alongside virtual school for my children. It felt like my work load tripled during the pandemic. I had to learn how to make my art faster.

How do you feel about being involved in an online residency program? How important is it to stay connected with the international art community?

Being connected to other artists is so helpful in thinking through projects.

We live in a global society. Being global isn’t just about products, but also cultural. Staying connected to the international art community ensures that artists understand the broader cultural conversations on art.

What are your thoughts about the theme ‘artist on standby’? Tell us a bit more about your project…

For me, ‘artist on standby’ really defined being a mom during the pandemic. I felt like my ability to really think or take time to process my art was taken away. I went into auto-drive.

I will be working on components for an installation in December. I will be creating a vinyl sticker for the floor.