As an artist, my work is a reflection of the deep and poetic connection between humans and nature. I explore our shared resilience, beauty, and transformation, often contrasting greyscale, stone-like figures with vibrant, flourishing florals. This visual juxtaposition is inspired by The Rose That Grew from Concrete, a poem by Tupac Shakur that profoundly shaped my perspective.
During a three-year period of homelessness, I experienced deep pain, angst, and a sense of worthlessness. I felt hardened by my struggles, much like concrete, but that poem reminded me that even in the harshest conditions, beauty and strength can emerge. It taught me that I was capable, worthy, and that my existence—like art itself—could inspire and uplift.
My art is my language, my labor of love, and my way of passing on this lesson. Through visual poetry, I hope to show others that no matter where they come from or what they've endured, there is beauty within them waiting to bloom.