Primary mediums - Oil, Charcoal

My work focuses on the old west from the perspective of Native Americans. I attempt to fill in the gaps of missing memories from a receding culture by celebrating native heroes and legends of the past.

"Cast in Bronze, Drawn with Mud" seeks to represent these heroes as bronze statues developing a patina. Bronze statues and busts, originally a Western European artistic tradition, have traditionally been used to commemorate and preserve the memory of local heroes. The statues develop a green/blue patina as time and weathering occur. The patina on these statues represents two conflicting meanings: they symbolize the passage of time as the shining memories fade due to the patination and oxidization of the sculpture. Conversely, the patina serves as a protective layer to shield the legend and its historical significance from further corrosion. The subtle petroglyphs behind the statue contrast the figure. Bronze was a material unfamiliar to the indigenous people of North America, who typically used materials such as mud, animal blood, war paints, feathers, and beads in their art. The various symbols used by native tribes, intentionally placed in the background, convey the natural artistic stories of these cultures.

“Three Peaces” describes Native Americans experience with peace. Many tribes were peaceful and had good relations with neighboring tribes while others were constantly at war for hundreds of years. Peace changed for them when another much larger and disease carrying tribe were introduced, the Europeans. Just as it has always been, peace is temporary, and when it is achieved, it is often forced or a result of compromise and accepting defeat. These are three symbols commonly associated with peace for various indigenous tribes: Peace Pipe, Eagle Feather, Broken Arrow.

“Legends & Omens” depicts portraits of iconic figures who have become legends in history, and others whose stories remain untold and, regrettably, unknown to the broader world. Whether they are famous chiefs like Sitting Bull or men only known for their portrait taken, the interpretation of whether the expressions in their eyes convey a positive or negative aura ultimately rests with the observer.