Large-format abstract painting. I work in acrylic on canvas, building layers of texture, colour, and emotion to express what language cannot. My current Emergence series explores themes of transformation, resilience, and becoming — capturing the interior journey of a life being rebuilt. Each painting is a conversation between intuition and intention, chaos and stillness.

Inspiration lives in the tension between struggle and breakthrough. My own journey — navigating loss, rebuilding identity, and discovering wholeness — is the well I draw from. I also find it in my faith community, in the faces of people at the margins, and in the quiet moments before a blank canvas. Nature, music, architecture, and the human capacity for resilience all inform the emotional language of my work.

This prize would be a turning point. I would invest in professional studio space, archival materials, and large-format printing to expand the Emergence series. I'd fund gallery submissions and an artist residency to elevate my international presence. A portion would support community arts initiatives here in Winnipeg — bringing painting to youth and marginalized populations. This isn't just about my career; it's about proving that art born from struggle can open doors for others.