ABOUT

My work is an exploration of the domestic and the fantastical, told through the tactile medium of textile. For nearly two decades, my practice was rooted in oil painting, focusing on a cast of original, otherworldly characters. However, the loss of my studio during Hurricane Katrina forced a material shift that fundamentally altered my creative trajectory. Translating my painted characters into three-dimensional plush forms revealed a profound affinity for fabric—a medium that offers a physical intimacy paint cannot replicate.

This evolution led to a fascination with the "plush object." By recreating life-sized, everyday items—from musical instruments and hauls of fish to cherry pies and 15th-century Dutch still lifes—I aim to subvert the rigid nature of the world. There is a playful tension in seeing a "slaughtered rabbit" or a heavy haul of fish rendered in soft, stuffed fabric; it invites the viewer to reconsider the weight, texture, and permanence of the objects that surround us.

Recently, my work has shifted back toward the narrative and the miniature. After sewing over 2,000 protective masks during the pandemic, I began utilizing the remaining scraps to create intricate appliqué mini-quilts. These animal scenes serve as both a record of a specific moment in time and a continuation of my interest in storytelling through fiber. Heavily influenced by the soft sculptures of Claes Oldenburg, the surrealism of Dorothea Tanning, and the vibrant cut-outs of Matisse, my work remains a celebration of the whimsical, the hand-stitched, and the resilient.