Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

Large scale multimedia paintings where I explore liminal narratives that spill out of my subconscious. But to tell the truth, I can sometimes get a lot of satisfaction out of the 2” x 2“ painting. Scale has always been an interesting flex for me. I find myself working from very expressive gestures and whittling away at the painting like carving into clouds. The painting is a narrative that I’m stepping into. I don’t want to be bored so I keep surprising myself in the act of making.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration is the act of painting itself. Like a musician, I improvise—chasing patterns, melodies, and stories as they emerge. When I’m laughing alone in the studio, I know I’m close to something true. Paint, canvas, and brush obey the same physical laws we do, and through them, I explore those constraints. Art becomes a lens for understanding the structure of our world—and our place within it.

What would you do with $25,000?

I want to spend six months in a small fishing village in Japan, painting large-scale multimedia works in the street and sketching portraits of local residents at night. It’s a dream that’s been stuck in my tooth for years. I know it will transform my work—I’m driven by extreme experiences that force change. The result will be a cohesive body of work for exhibition and publication.