My formative years have always been the inspiration for my artwork. I grew up on a farm in Northeast Kansas, under a big sky with open views of the fields and pastures, farmsteads scattered here and there. I learned a lot about hard work and work ethic, and what it takes to survive in an often harsh and unforgiving environment. I have come to appreciate the beauty in simple things and traditions.

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Experiences from my upbringing materialize in objects and narratives, the themes ranging from domestic activities taught by the women in my life, to the hands-on, “dirty” work learned from my dad, to childhood pastimes. I create objects, collections and viewer experiences that reflect my formative years and home, frequently overlapping gender specific objects and humorously embellishing on the truth. I use a variety of materials and processes including cast iron, fabric, found objects and installation, to realize my concepts and generate curious contradictions within the work.

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The purpose of this artwork is to give permanence to memory and provide viewers with the opportunity to encounter moments from my life that have shaped me. Through these encounters, I hope to evoke a sense of nostalgia and create a relationship with the viewer. Whether the viewer finds commonalities from their own childhood within the experience, or feels a disconnect with my home causing them to long for a more familiar place, the viewer joins me in a journey back home. After all, there is no place like it.