In the throes of the pandemic, the world around us dissolved into a state of uncertainty, chaos, and disruption. It was during this period that I began painting the series presented in this exhibit. My initial pieces were abstract expressions of the instability that we all felt. Raw, unstructured, chaotic.

As time progressed, subtle elements of structure. line, and geometry began to weave their way into the work. These elements represented my search for stability and direction amidst the chaos. Each shape and line represented a step towards reclaiming a sense of order and direction in a time when such things were scarce.

Gradually, nature and organic elements began to play a more significant role in my paintings. I guess in some way, this represented a sense of feeling anchored and grounded. At first, the ginkgo leaf made an appearance, which symbolized hope, strength, resilience, and the ability to thrive through life’s challenges. In many cultures, ginkgo leaves can also symbolize peace, prosperity, longevity and health as ginkgo trees are one of the oldest living tree species in the world.

From there, more organic forms began to be infused into the work through my use of lavender flower stalks and native grasses as nature’s own paintbrushes. For me, these subtle additions continued to provide a sense of rootedness and reconnection.

“Anchored: A Path from Chaos to Connection” is a visual narrative of my journey through the pandemic and beyond. It reflects a visual evolution from a state of disorder and uncertainty to one with more structure, definition and connection to the natural world.