I long for tangible stories of female struggle and strength. The resilience of women is a salve for my own fear and pain. As a spiritual person, fear and pain often sit awkwardly next to faith and reverence. The paradox between submission and rebellion, tradition and complexity, perfection and authenticity is the unresolved tension that fuels my work.

I photograph women as documentation of their existence. The images are the closest form of visual communication to reality I can generate and their lives are proof of resilience despite pain. Altering photos through chemical processes, collage, mark making and hand writing is another layer of evidence - an indisputable artifact of authenticity. This process is a stake in the ground; a declaration that I am resilient and that I too, have endured.

Images are buried in varying degrees of opacity using encaustic medium made from beeswax, which is produced by female bees. The loss of focus mimics the erosion of stories and a letting-go of idealization. More than a preservative medium, the wax becomes an intentional vessel - holding the weight of untold testimonies, unseen labor, and the quiet persistence of the female experience. 

These works become holy mirrors - places for me to look for bold assurance that my flaws are not wasted, my faults won’t sink me and my faith can exist alongside doubt.