Visual Art – Minneapolis
I am an artist living with schizoaffective disorder, ADHD, PTSD, ASD, and severe anxiety. I moved to the U.S. from England in 2004 at the age of 18. I left behind a lack of creative resources in Northamptonshire, England, to find a surprising abundance of creative opportunities here in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have a love for architecture and the human form that has led to different bodies of work. I primarily have a deep rooted passion for drawing, and it is only in later years that I have found joy in painting, despite the frustrations I often feel with it. I have also continued to experiment with mixed media work. I create most of my pieces in charcoal, Conte Crayon, watercolor and now I experiment openly with acrylic paint, paving the way to oils in the near future. Layers continue to be a consistent characteristic in my artwork and the sometimes gruesome toll it takes to reach a successful outcome, I strive to reach for unknown layers within my own identity and what that means to me, as well as the outside world. Not only is it a key part of my therapeutic process, but it is also an effective communication tool, exercised to advocate for myself and others within my communities.