How do we profess our individuality while simultaneously fitting ourselves into the roles and expectations laid out by familiar traditions? Throughout my 20s, I noticed changes take place in friends, family, and myself. Have we changed for better or for worse? My curiosity of my own maturation has laid the foundation for this ongoing project, which has spanned the course of my post-collegiate years.


Society has determined that the most formative years of adulthood most likely occur in one’s 20s. Graduate from college; begin a career; move out; get married; buy a house; have children. The cycle will eventually repeat. These are the societal norms. Intense desire for independence comes with the burden of new responsibilities; ones in which young adults are not fully equipped to handle. As a result, the “adult” must remain tied to the immediate family, never fully venturing out on one's own to create a new sense of identity. As I transitioned from a 20-something into 30-something, I discovered that the route I chose, or happened upon, broke from these norms, and as a result, the ties with family became a burden and relationships that were once fluid were becoming more difficult to cultivate. As I continued toward an alternate path, I found myself constantly desiring new challenges, so as to alleviate the tedium of adult life.


Most artworks in this series, Transformation, began with a digital photograph as the foundation. Some remained as photographs, while others yearned to be manipulated. I've experimented with the scanning of drawings or paintings I've created on paper and layering with photographs by means of a digital collage, as well as physically altering the surface of prints. Throughout this series, I've used a variety of media not only to explore the aesthetic properties, but also as a physical manifestation of my own restlessness. As a result, the multiple layers, textures, and patterns create intentional discord, with a heavy weight that yearns to be lifted. 

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