Can you tell us about your artistic practice?

I'm a Miami native and Queer artist working in drawing, fiber, collage, photography, ceramic, and painting. I use multi-disciplinary techniques to translate themes at the intersection of gender, race, emotion, sexuality, and ethnicity. In these translations, I strive to document the jubilation of the queer experience, present the sublime nature found in the range of intimacy, and inform viewers through representation imagery, in the hopes that it will evoke a sense of empathetic relatability that aligns with the human condition.

Tell us about a personal artistic project or body of work that you are currently excited about.

I’m extremely focused and excited to work on a project where I can document and display Trans locals in scenes of much-needed joy. I’ve started a series of pieces adapting transgender narratives into iconographic Sanrio characters, with the intent of illustrating Trans jubilation in a form that is already recognized in cis-normative fictional imagery. The sculptures Damn Daniel, a Transmasc-presenting anthropomorphized cat, and Bimbo Kitty, Transfemme-presenting anthropomorphized cat, were made for a trans for trans (T4T) flirtatious beach scene.

I want to push this concept further by making original character forms about the Miami Transgender community, by way of interviews and discussions. I will use the answers of the interviewees to shape the visual presentation of the characters. Subsequently, after I model the characters, I want to organize them all together in a space alongside words from their respective models in the form of letters. The setting in which these characters would reside would be a stylized visual vignette of Miami.

I believe these characters are essential to the acknowledgement of transgender individuals as fellow human beings, deserving of empathy and comprehension. The presence of informed perspectives plays a crucial role in preventing violence. I wish to showcase these genderqueer narratives in an installation where their dialogue can be truly highlighted, with the potential to evolve further.

Tell us about how you have developed as an artist since you began working at Bakehouse.

Since my time at the Bakehouse as a Summer Open alumnus, and in my current role as an associate artist, I have had the privilege of engaging with a diverse community of talented individuals who have significantly contributed to the development of my artistic practice. Through collaborative interactions, I have gained valuable insights into various craft processes and techniques. These interactions have eased my navigation within the art world, enhancing my understanding of its intricacies.

My connection with the medium of ceramics has been strengthened, and I have had the opportunity to impart my knowledge and experiences through demonstrations and workshops. These transformative experiences have proven invaluable to my practice, particularly as I transitioned back to Miami following my studies in Kansas City.