I create art because it keeps me curious and alive. It reminds me that there is always another way to see, to feel, to build something new.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
My favorite work emerges from "Atmospheric Excavation." As a mixed-media painter using charcoal and oil on birch, I move beyond literal scenes to capture a subject’s "presence." I lean into anti-domestic realism, creating a "public seduction" that acts as a mirror for the viewer. By layering and excavating materials, I find the tension between the hidden and the revealed. This tactile process transforms urban and natural icons into evocative connections within our shared, public space.
Where do you find inspiration?My work is rooted in learning through walking: a daily practice of exploring the stories of places I live with my family. Having moved between cities, I’m inspired by how shared walks reveal layers of human history, memory, and everyday life within urban spaces. By observing the environments we move through together, I create mixed-media works that reflect our collective presence. I invite viewers to see familiar streets differently and discover the hidden stories beneath them.
What would you do with $25,000?With the $25,000 prize, I would launch a bold artistic research project in Washington, D.C., transforming the city’s rhythm, architecture, and human energy into mixed-media works on canvas. I would also document the raw, honest creative journey on YouTube, building a “Start Here” guide for emerging artists. The funds would provide essential equipment, materials, and production tools to turn this living study into a global educational story of how and why art is made.
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