Artist Biography

I am an emerging interdisciplinary artist completing my undergraduate degree in Visual Studies at the University of Calgary. Although I was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, I currently reside and work in Calgary. My work covers themes of self-reflection, narrative storytelling, and psychology. Through processed-based practices, such as photolithography, intaglio, relief, film photography, found object sculpture, and oil painting, I aim to create a body of work which may connect with any viewer and prompt them to self-reflect.

For I Owe It All To You extends my semester-long exploration of personality, development, and childhood through photolithography. This medium's precise rendering of photographs was vital to my concept. Despite its demanding nature, the medium's inherent imperfections—plate scumming, scratches, and other variables—enhanced my work. By reexposing plates and working reductively, I created new compositions and emotions, visually representing change and degradation. In this project, I used plastic and paper of varying opacity to create unique layering effects, symbolizing development. Thick rag paper, hand-dyed with coffee grounds and tea leaves, conveyed an aged, weathered look. My most detailed prints appeared on semi-translucent rice paper, while more transparent images were printed on plastic packing materials, frosted mylar, and clear acetate. This transparency and layering aimed to evoke the experience of reliving memories—fading and losing detail over time, becoming obscured and abstract. Materiality plays a crucial role, reflecting the fragility of memories and childhood and their development over time. The shift from paper to plastic mirrors cultural changes and represents boxing up or unpacking memories. Unpacking my childhood memories was a part of this process, as well as letting go of certain aspects of myself. Each print was hand-stitched onto backing paper using multi-colored red embroidery floss and thread. This continuous red thread symbolizes both love and anger, reflecting my mixed emotions when recalling my childhood. The act of suturing, often used in a medical context to heal wounds with minimal scarring, connects to my personal history. Coming from a family of dentists and medical professionals, suturing evokes a sense of connection to my family and their influence on my development. The imagery in my prints includes my two sisters, highlighting our bond, experiences, and conflicts, which have profoundly shaped who I am today.