Artist statement
I craft sculptures tailored to the aesthetic tastes of the American suburban middle class, drawing inspiration from mass-market decor found in stores like Target. Using inexpensive materials, I transform them into minimalist pieces, elevating them through hand-painted marble and meticulous craftsmanship. Materials like pink foam retain traces of their original labeling, prompting viewers to reconsider the piece's origins. Akin to an ecosystem enclosed in a terrarium, my sculptures depict a vibrant but ultimately unsustainable artificial environment. As plants within the terrarium grow, competition for space intensifies, turning the once-comfortable space into a struggle for survival. The metaphor extends to suburban America, where curated living conditions prioritize aesthetics over functionality, reflecting an impermanent American Dream. Coined as "Subarium," my created environment encapsulates the beautiful and terrible aspects of this constructed dream – vast, impermanent, and intricately intertwined with the complexities of contemporary suburban life.