Where are you from and what was it like to grow up there?
I’m originally from Reading Pennsylvania and moved to the Midwest around 2000. Because of that I feel pulls at different times towards calling myself in East coaster or a Midwest gal. For the most part, I grew up in Oswego. In terms of experiences, it was a pretty generic childhood, great family, good school and all the standard hallmarks that come with it. My family life was a little different as my dad lived mostly in China, starting in my childhood through early adulthood. I’m not sure if it was because of his absence, or because it was inevitable, but my mom and brother and I have always been very close. Having my mom’s family based out east, and my dad‘s out west, and my dad across the globe, I’ve always had the understanding that home is just where you are right now. There’s a whole world of experiences, flavors, colors, styles and ideas out there - waiting for me to find them. I’m thankful that my childhood and upbringing taught me to always look for more.

When did you discover your artistic talents? What were they? Were you the kid who drew in class, so to speak?
There’s never been a day where I didn’t know I was an artistic kid. My mom and I have always loved to create things rather than buy them. So I’ve always been curious and happily willing to work with my hands. Anything from painting to decorating a cake to building my kitchen table – I’ve always been ready to get my hands dirty. I’ve always gravitated towards art class, so much so that in my last semester of high school, 75% of my classes were in the art room. I’ll never forget my first day of college when my mom asked me if I was prepared to do school without art, now that it’s college. I chuckle thinking about it now that make concrete art for a living.

Tell us about your educational background. What about when it comes to art?
I’ve always been self-taught in my art education. I’ve certainly had a learning curve understanding the medium of concrete. It was the first medium that I fully allowed myself to learn through mistakes… I took my time, I did things multiple ways just to understand the different outcomes, and I learned from the mistakes. While concrete has certainly required the largest learning curve, it’s been a blast learning by trial by fire. I’ve always said “there’s no wrong way to art,” and to this day - I mean it.

How would you say your style has evolved into what it is now?
My style has evolved into what it is now, simply because of my other personal interest and styles. The environment (and taking care of it) is really important to me, so I take great measures to implement as many sustainable practices in my production and packaging as I can. I try and create as little waste as possible, and love creating pieces that are multi-functional. The minimalist color palette comes from my love of a calming and neutral environment. I certainly do love color, it absolutely has its place in my life, but nothing makes me feel calmer and more at home than warm, soft neutrals. So I’ve brought that into my art.

What materials and techniques do you use?
All of my pieces are made of concrete. Each piece is measured and mixed by hand. I use natural powder pigments in my mixture to achieve the different colors, and all of the pieces are casted into silicone molds to create its shape. I enjoy trying different techniques, such as the marbling of two different colored concrete mixes (while they’re liquid), as well as creating a textured design on the surface of a piece by essentially painting concrete on the surface of a piece. While concrete is a universal material and seen on a daily basis, I think it’s the ability to play with colors and those techniques that makes my work my own.

Who and what inspires you and your art?
The biggest inspiration to my work is simply understanding the spaces that I want to exist in. I think of what are the best parts of those spaces, and how can I create more of that with my art. I also love the natural colors, textures, patterns of nature. That will always inspire me!

How does it impact you that your art is on display at Carnelian Art Gallery?
I'm honored to share space with the artists of Carnelian Art Gallery! Being a part of this space, in this world and environment, makes me feel appreciative and more a part of the art world. I know my work isn’t traditional art, but to be in the ranks of what is on the shelves and walls of Carnelian really has filled a special place in my heart.