I make self-destructive art that is born from trauma, usually using my face as a model. I don’t know why I do it, but I do it. As William Faulkner said, “An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn’t know why they choose him and he’s usually too busy to wonder why.”

For years, around New Years Eve, I would create visual representations of how I felt my journey with mental health struggles had gone for that year. It became a tradition.

It became dark. I started to enjoy the process of making grotesque displays. Experimenting with the textured details involved in making things look burnt, scratched, stained, or destroyed in some grungy way became a passion of mine— and it just so happened to represent mental health struggles so uniquely. Our invisible wounds. The destruction you can’t see. In my world, you see them and it causes you unease because of the sense of sorrow, mystery, uneasiness, intensity, shock behind what is being depicted.

The method became about being interested in photo manipulations using Adobe Photoshop. I developed a certain aesthetic that heavily uses textures of various varieties. Texture is everything.

Mental health struggles are devastating to have to face. You are not facing them alone. I am glad you are here. Thank you for being here.
—

If you or someone you know is in crisis or experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 support, or call 911 for immediate emergency assistance.