“I try to think of what I’m doing as a living process rather than as a static object.”
Robert Rauschenberg
I’m an interdisciplinary artist exploring the intersections of class, race, and identity through a nuanced examination of systemic behaviors and cultural symbols. Grounded in art history, critical post-modern theory, and semiotics, my work delves into the complexities of perception, value, and social constructs. Using diverse mediums — from painting and printmaking to textiles and public installations — I often incorporate ready-made materials to challenge conventional notions of art and authorship. My work is characterized by its conceptual depth, minimalistic aesthetic, and exploration of duality, as seen in series like ‘The Constant Pursuit’ and ‘Black on Black’. I invite viewers to engage with layered meanings, addressing persistence, mastery, failure, and the codified knowledge embedded within visual language.
‘The Constant Pursuit’…
At Jason Wallace Studio, my work critically engages with Signs & Symbols, with textiles serving as both a process and conceptual framework. This approach is particularly evident in the targets within ‘The Constant Pursuit’ series, where the target symbol becomes a powerful metaphor for the duality of striving for perfection and the inevitability of failure. Drawing on Sarah Elizabeth Lewis’ ‘The Rise’, the target encapsulates the tension between achievement and setback, reflecting the cyclical nature of human aspirations.
Textiles, with their rich historical and cultural connotations, deepen this exploration. The medium’s inherent tactility and materiality emphasize the physical and psychological dimensions of perception as it relates to the body. When the target is positioned in front of the viewer, it symbolizes a forward-looking, goal-driven pursuit—a relentless striving for mastery and success. Conversely, when the target is perceived as being behind, it invokes a sense of nostalgia and negativity, representing past failures and the burden of unfulfilled ambitions.
This bodily relationship to the target underscores how our perceptions are influenced by both physical orientation and mental state. In the ‘Target Series’, textiles become a medium through which I interrogate how symbols like the target can simultaneously embody forward momentum and backward reflection. By using textiles, I engage viewers in a dialogue about the nature of pursuit, perception, and the human will to overcome, challenging them to reconsider how they navigate the complexities of ambition and failure in their own lives.