My ceramic sculptures are organic in form and are inspired by nature’s will to survive. I am drawn to forms that are clustered, delicate and protective. Using clay as my primary medium, I hand build structures that don’t seek to replicate nature, but translate what I have seen in a unique and interesting way. My photography pieces seek to correlate with the organic and clustered aspects of my ceramics.
 
My method of clay building is best described as a calculated mix of methods. I slab build some sections while coil building others. My clustered installation, “Trypophobia” was made using balloons and sheet plastic. The unique marks created by the mangling of the clay and plastic gave it a texture that I feel is otherwise unattainable with tools. I mix my building methods to best fit the piece I am creating. My photography involves photographing organic images through water and glass to create an abstracted version of the organic forms that I am drawn to.
 
My initial interest in these organic forms in nature came from my complete aversion to things that contain clusters of holes, known as trypophobia. This self- observed phobia transformed into an interest of seed pods and how all living things are primarily motivated by self-preservation. It is that idea of self-preservation, or “will to survive,” that I am exploring with this exhibition.