Bio
I was raised in Orlando by my single mother and my two siblings (i’m a triplet). I knew from a young age I wanted to be an artist, originally wanting to be animator. My mom made sure I grew up surrounded by art and encouraged me to push myself in my work.
I was first introduced to ceramics in High School, but didn’t get on the wheel until college. I was recruited to row at West Virginia University (WVU) where I received my BFA in Ceramics in 2021. My body of worked started in a multi-media class my sophomore year, aiming to different aspects of my life ceramics, athletics and cartoons. I created these characters to take over the different athletic facilities and now they take over anywhere I can think of.
Artist Statement
My introduction to art comes from my experiences and proximity to Disney. My mom would take me into the Disney and Wyland galleries during signings to get critiques from artists. Before being introduced to clay my dream was to become an animator. My work now combines the parodied nature of cartoons with the absurd idea that pottery can come to life.
Both ceramics and traditional (cel animation) animation require a strong sense of discipline and a willingness to embrace repetition. The challenge in creating ceramics lies in mastering the techniques of shaping, molding, and firing the clay to achieve the desired form and surface. It requires patience, precision, and a deep understanding of the material's behavior. Similarly, in cel animation, you work with individual frames to create the illusion of movement. Each frame requires careful attention to detail, consistency, and timing. Just like pottery, it is all about finding the right balance between technique and creativity.
I strive to incorporate humor and whimsy into my work, often drawing inspiration from my background, surroundings, and the ceramic process itself. Beyond their whimsical charm, my ceramic characters show the complexity of clay as a material that often has a mind of its own. The vessels that normally play a role as utilitarian objects become personalities that interact with us, each other, and our spaces.
My artistic vision is to create pieces that are not only visually appealing but also tell a story using form, surface or 2d animations. My creative process relies heavily on exploring what makes me happy, drawing inspiration from the art I grew up with and materials I have come to love. Both ceramics and animation require dedication, passion and a love for the intricacies of the process, but they also offer so much room for creativity and expression.