At Least I Have You to Remember Me: Acrylic Paintings

Artist Statement

In my work, I am interested in how we perceive the nature of the individual and the ways that it can be communicated. I am influenced by color, science, and stories. Through the tradition of portraiture, I explore how the invisible force of self-determinism creates a visible face to the world. From friends to public figures, I use letters, binary code, and binaural recordings to reveal secrets that can be profound or that lay just below the surface. Using oil, acrylic, and water-soluble wax pastel, I paint faces with high-octane color. I like the tension between incongruent colors while juxtaposing complementary colors to create a visual emotional impact.

In this painting series, I explore the idea of individual memory transforming history. Each portrait integrates aspects of the scientist’s work and includes a fictive letter about their role in science and the challenges they faced. History is made through memory. By viewing the painting and reading the letter, you remember who she is and then her work is remembered and history becomes recast.