Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

Brain teasers. I create interactive mazes that act as "cognitive triggers" to disrupt the autopilot of daily life. I’ve always been drawn to the challenge of problem-solving—the way a complex puzzle requires you to think outside the box to find the path forward. Since life itself is a series of daily puzzles, I build brain games that require active engagement. I love creating work that makes people stand still, focus, and physically navigate their way to a solution.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration comes from the immersive "search and find" worlds I loved as a kid, like "I SPY" books, "Where’s Waldo", and complex mazes. I see the real world through that same lens—as a massive, unsolved puzzle. An odd sentence overheard or a unique pattern on a sign acts like a "hidden clue" for me. I take these random everyday fragments and engineer them into my work. My goal is to turn the act of viewing art into a game of discovery that rewards the viewer for looking closer.

What would you do with $25,000?

At 32, art is my life’s work, and surviving as an independent creator is a constant battle. This prize would be the fuel I need to take my 3D maze concepts to a massive scale. I want to move past the wall and collaborate with software engineers to create immersive, light-based installations for museum spaces. This funding would allow me to transform my physical paintings into high-tech experiences, providing the resources to build a sustainable career.