Bio:
Born in Sterling, IL. I received a BFA from Iowa State University and an MFA from University of Washington. I am an international art scholar and taught fine art at the University of Washington-Seattle, UW-Bothell, The Evergreen State College, and Gage Academy of Art in Seattle. I currently reside in Tumwater, WA with my wife and two cats, and act as the gallery director for Childhood’s End Gallery in Olympia, WA.
Artist Statement:
My interest in painting is primarily related to its ability to create metaphoric space. The work evolved from investigations into death through religious and medical lenses, and explores the Roman Catholic concept of purgatory. My paintings present forests as a timeless spiritual place, while the unforgiving behavior of digital light leads the viewer through the darkness. My aim is to create a reflective space that invites skepticism and expresses uncertainty. The submitted works were done during the COVID-19 shutdown and were an attempt to process the confusion and isolation felt during that time.