What do you feel is crucial to your growth as an artist?  You call yourself ‘hunter’?

I think when art becomes work, it’s hard to grow. It’s like when you leave something in your room, eventually you don’t see it anymore. Trying new things and making yourself uncomfortable is crucial to growth as an artist and a person. I try to hunt down new opportunities to get excited and discover new things to help me keep growing.

How would you describe your artistic style?

Unfinished! I always struggle with knowing when to stop, or feel like things are still left more unpolished as I’d like. Especially since I began grad school and am playing with new materials and styles, it feels like I’m still circling who I am as an artist but I haven’t landed just yet.

How do you thematically plan a piece of work? What are the steps involved (ie. finding materials, research), and where do these fascinating ideas come from? 

I struggle to get started – I’ll usually think about an idea until I talk myself out of doing it! But things seem to come together best when I’m not thinking too much about how the end result will look visually, but just discover everything about it while I’m making it.

Who are some of your artistic inspirations, and why? And, do you see a parallel between your work and theirs? 

I’m obsessed with Jespar Just and Korakrit Arunanonchai. They both offer immersive environments to explore and I find that really exciting, it’s not just an object in a gallery or a two dimensional picture, but like a real environment to move around in – a bit like a haunted house! I think seeing their work really made me want to be a sculptural artist.

It is important for artists to travel, get to know different places. How did you decide to come for your first art residence in Belgrade? 

Belgrade is entirely new for me, and I was excited to learn about a new city. It’s becoming well known for being an inspiring, energizing place for artists to spend time, so I was very happy for the opportunity!

What are you working on now? And what is next? 

My thesis for grad school, I’m working on the idea of human resilience after the impending apocalypse. I’m finding a lot of movies and media concerned with the end of the world and how humans will turn against one another and how we can’t trust each other. I’m so tired of focusing on differences in people, when really we are all the same. It might take the apocalypse for some people to finally realize that.

How did you find Belgrade? Any inspiration? 

Belgrade is beautiful, I feel so lucky to get the opportunity to explore it at a relaxed pace and take my time to visit everything and really feel what it’s like to live here. Weirdly enough, I’m really inspired by the downstairs neighbors! Their kids play outside all day and I’ve painted a couple of “snapshots” of them during my time here.

What is your message to artist who wish to come to Belgrade in the future?

Don’t hesitate for a second! The apartments Baxx provides are beautiful and you’ll have space, quiet, and everything you need to just work on ideas and make some art while discovering a beautiful city. Baxx is so welcoming and friendly, and you’ll be next door to another creator if you ever need someone to share ideas with. It’s been a really great experience!