Artist statement
My work is at an intersection of graffiti, studio painting, art education, community organizing and public space. All of these facets inform each other seamlessly and allow me the freedom to investigate my artistic interests from a holistic perspective. When teaching, I combine elements of community engagement and authentic placemaking with public education. Acknowledging the consequences of segregation and systemic racism, as well as honoring the triumphs against these conditions, is something all Chicagoans can relate to. This is essential in making my work accessible for deeper, creatively disruptive conversations. My program Spray Runners embodies these concepts. Spray Runners trains youth as runners as well as community muralists. Through running they are able to explore their community relationships that they then translate into public art. Running puts Third Space Theory into motion while the artwork they produce translates these experiences into a dialogue with the neighborhood.
My studio practice mimics the above in a more intimate setting. In my studio I’m allowed to process my identity within Chicago and use that to reimagine how far we can take public art in the city. My work inside my studio is meditative and in direct conversation with the louder, large scale murals I make.
The heritage and distinct culture of my community is ever-present in my work. Whether I’m teaching or making art, I am actively constructing pathways or spaces to honor narratives that have been intentionally disregarded in Chicago both politically and artistically.