I create art to make sense of a past illness through layered mixed media where memory, repair, and resilience emerge through process.
Who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon? Public voting begins soon!
My favorite work merges painting, collage, drawing, and embroidery into layered abstract surfaces. I build, cut, stitch, and reconfigure materials so earlier gestures remain visible within new forms. The process is slow and physical; each mark records time and labor. I’m drawn to work that holds tension between presence and absence. Where repair, disruption, and accumulation shape the final image.
Where do you find inspiration?Inspiration comes from process, memory, and the body’s experience over time. During treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, making became a way to externalize complex internal states. I’m inspired by repetition, repair, and the traces left by earlier actions. Materials carry history, and as layers build and shift, forms appear and disappear, much like memories resurfacing and dissolving.
What would you do with $25,000?Winning this award would directly support my studio practice. The funds would allow me to purchase high-quality materials, cover entry fees for exhibitions, professionally frame finished works, and hire a photographer to properly document the work. I do not take this opportunity lightly; I would use the support with great care to sustain and advance my practice.
Register now for your opportunity to appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display your artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
