My work is inspired by where I feel my home is, how I understand the concept of home and where I find it. I’ve always tried to use my paintings as a way to honor my personal history in the Midwest, but over time, it is becoming clearer to me why and how I relate to my home.

I’m aware of how, over time, ways of life shape and define people and the places in which they live. Making these paintings helps me consider whether disappearance can be meaningful and if so, in what way it’s meaningful for my home community and for myself. I’m considering where I’ll find “home” again and where I can “go back” to.

All places acquire layers of history. This specific place is grounding to me, personally, and I realize how significantly it shaped my identity. I’m hopeful that the shift I’m observing in my hometown is a cycle that has occurred before in one way or another. Maybe it looks different to a current resident than to a visitor.