I create oil portraits that blend realism and abstraction, focusing on people of color and the emotional weight they carry. My work often explores identity, ancestry, and the idea of presence, figures that feel both here and fading, representing how easily history and lived experiences can be forgotten. Through layered textures, bold color palettes, and intentional distortion, I aim to make each subject feel timeless, powerful, and deeply human.

I find inspiration in people, culture, and the emotions we carry but don’t always express. I’m drawn to painting people of color in all forms, while also exploring different styles, ideas, and concepts as I grow as an artist. A lot of my work comes from curiosity, experimenting, evolving, and creating what feels real to me in the moment. I don’t try to box myself in; I paint what I’m inspired by and trust that the right people will connect with it.

I would use the $25,000 to create a stable home studio where I can fully focus on my work and grow as an artist. Right now, I’m working out of a very small space and often choosing between investing in art supplies or covering basic living expenses. Having a dedicated environment would allow me to create consistently, expand my body of work, and take my art to a professional level. More than anything, it would give me the stability to keep going and turn something I’ve been building on faith in