BIG FISH is social commentary on the comfort of the "Big Fish'' at the expense of the pond. Climate change has threatened ecosystems and communities around the world causing individuals to compete for resources. Poor communities are affected the most and pay the greatest consequences of those who abuse our shared resources while living without a plan to help replenish those collective assets. This piece aims to advocate for environmental justice so we may preserve the earth for future generations.
UNFORTUNATE SOULS illustrates the fate of the persecuted and forgotten. It is an exaggerated portrayal of how privileged people view the less fortunate - scrabbling at the bottom like crabs to improve their circumstances and “make it out” while falling ever deeper into the abyss. In this piece, I comment on society’s damnation of marginalized groups behavior who are merely trying to survive with the deck stacked against them. Through silhouette, this piece portrays the souls of the invisible poor and their assumed reality from the outside looking in.
HUNGER is an artistic interpretation of American Individualism. It displays themes of greed and overindulgence and comments on the infatuation that young hustlers and dreamers' have with shiny things and social status.
NORMA is a satirical glimpse into "The Real World." It displays the pressures of adulthood and societal norms and an individual who refuses to conform.
FRAGILITY stemmed from my personal frustrations and struggles with my own womanhood. I wanted to take a very literal approach to this piece so I decided to make this gown entirely out of BUBBLE WRAP. What started as an allegorical dig at the fragile lady trope soon blossomed into an opportunity to see fragility in a different light. As black women we are always taught to be strong, durable, unbreakable, yet we are the most susceptible to ridicule and abuse. I saw this as an opportunity to comment on the urgency of protecting our women while painting us in a more feminine, regal light.
FRAGILE. Handle with Care.
PAPER CUT is an experimental project that aimed to push the creative boundary by creating a set & look almost entirely out of paper. This was used to promote sustainable fashion encouraging the use Recycle, Reuse & Repurpose.
VESSEL - The flower vase is not only a tool, but an artistic gift from antiquity. It is a vessel not only capable of nurturing and sustaining life, but of carrying human history within its walls. Like the vase, our bodies carry our personal stories, culture and history. They morph, support, and regenerate all to bear fruit to this world. It amazes me how much the human body inspires the world surrounding it. In this piece, the woman’s body is used as a tool of elegant and simplistic artistic expression.
HOUSE OF MIRRORS is a self-reflective series that tackles identity & expression.
Head-carrying is found across many cultures & has been around for centuries. Women work long, hard hours on their feet to support their families. FRUIT LADY is a tribute to women & their entrepreneurship despite the status quo.
BREAKING POINT is a surreal portrayal of a woman reaching her breaking point.
BREADCRUMBS. A photo series. Stumbled upon a woman last summer and stood in admiration watching her patiently teach who I assumed was her granddaughter how to feed the ducks. After recent attacks on Asian-Americans, I began reflecting back a lot on these images. It reminded me of my own relationship with my grandmothers, who made sacrifices and worked long hours for their children and grandchildren to have a better life than they did. The victims of these hate crimes are mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, sons, and brothers. All people with dreams. As much as political figures attempt to divide us, we are not that different. We must call hate crimes for what they are and support one another to create a safe space for ALL American Dreams.
