My favorite art to create is sculptural leather work—what I call Silhouettes of Leather. I shape real leather entirely by hand, without molds, allowing the material to guide the form. Each piece is discovered, not forced. The movement, the folds, and the tension in the leather reveal the final image. What draws me to this medium is the transformation. Leather is often used for things that wear out over time, but in my work, it becomes something lasting—something that carries emotion and meaning.

I find inspiration in transformation—in the journey from struggle to strength. My life has shaped my work, and that experience lives in every piece I create. I’m inspired by the idea of giving leather a second life, taking a material that is often used and forgotten, and turning it into something permanent, something that carries emotion. Nature, the human form, and movement guide me, but most of all, it’s the unseen moments—the quiet battles, the resilience, and the will to rise again—that driv

I would invest the $25,000 into growing my work as a leather sculptor—materials, tools, studio space, and the ability to present my work at a higher level. It would allow me to create a stronger, more cohesive body of work and bring Silhouettes of Leather to a wider audience through exhibitions and opportunities I would not otherwise have access to. More than anything, it would help me continue building something meaningful from my hands and share it with people who connect with the story behind