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. What I love about working this way is that I can reimagine. I can create 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.