My most recent work involves photographing small objects against a black velvet background. I use digital software to take them apart and put them back together. This technique is similar to collage except that I’m working with digital files from my own photographs. By reconstructing my images, I can reimagine them, creating spaces and objects that could not exist otherwise.

In recent years, I have been captivated by the life cycle of plants. Their transitions from growth to decay are not only beautiful, but they also provide a way to access my inner world. As an image develops, it mirrors my states of mind, emotions, and deliberations.

While rooted in my own exploration, I design my work to remain open, like a dream, leaving space for multiple interpretations. Through it, I hope to evoke a sense of beauty whose meaning is not fixed. Real meaning emerges in the space between image and viewer, shifting as each person brings their own perspective.

As a quick bio:

I grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis, often occupied by drawing and painting. School field trips to the Minneapolis Institute of Art introduced me to the work of the Post-Impressionists. My heart still races when I see Van Gogh’s Olive Trees or Bonnard’s Dining Room in the Country. Later, discovering photographers like Diane Arbus and Duane Michals inspired me to embrace photography as an expressive medium.

I hold a BA in painting and an MFA in photography, both from UW-Madison.