It’s like I get a little closer to the mystery of what it means to be alive, where things don’t have to make perfect sense to feel true.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I am a portrait artist. I love portraiture because it lets me sit with a person’s presence and translate something unspoken into form. The body feels deeply unique to me, like its own language; every curve, posture, and gesture holds a different truth about a person, even without the face. I look for what isn’t immediately visible: emotion, energy, and mystery, and I let it surface through observation and feeling.
Where do you find inspiration?Nature, light, and quiet in-between moments also shape how I see. Most of my inspiration comes from paying attention to what feels alive but unspoken. Steven Arnold is also a big inspiration of mine for the way he blends surrealism, the body, and spiritual expression.
What would you do with $25,000?If I had $25,000, I would reinvest it into my creative practice by upgrading equipment, building a more intentional studio space, and funding a body of work I’ve been wanting to create without financial pressure. I’d also use some for travel and experiences that feed my inspiration and for printing and sharing my work more widely. The rest would go toward stability so I can stay focused on creating and growing my practice without distraction.
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