Concentration

Blue Light

2018, 16" x 20", oil on canvas

This piece captures the face that people have when staring at their phone -- that almost dead look. It explores the way that blue light from a phone interacts with the crevices and form of the face. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the cold feeling and blue hue from the phone.

Nurture or Nature?

2019, 20" x 16", oil on canvas

The figure in this piece is an embryo in the womb holding a cell phone. It seems to me that many people in the 21st century are excessively reliant off technology, to the point where I question if we are creating technology or if technology is creating us. The craning of the neck and elongated legs gives the figure an almost supernatural feel. Also the emphasis of the light from the phone makes the technology an especially jarring element in this piece.

"I CAN'T BREATHE"

2020, 24" x 18", oil on canvas

This painting explores the role of cell phone in catalyzing the Black Lives Matter movement. During the Vietnam war, the invention of the television sparked anti-war protests by bringing "war into the home." This piece is a 21st century take on that same concept.

The background and cell phone video in the center show the last words and chokehold death of Eric Garner. The first cell phone recordings of police brutality against African Americans brought the issue to the attention of millions across America.

Late Nights

2020, 20" x 24", oil on canvas

This painting portrays technology in the home, like watching Netflix on a laptop at night. It encapsulates both the loneliness and comfort of the moment.

I also focused on the way that fabric on the bed crinkles and flows and almost seems to melt off the painting.

Face It

2019, 20" x 24", oil on canvas

I sewed metal wire throughout the canvas, in some parts outlining the tracking mask used by artificial intelligence facial recognition systems.

This piece delves into the implications of the increasing ubiquity of AI facial recognition -- both the lighthearted side like teens using silly filters on Snapchat and then the other side like China's government using AI technology to hunt down political dissenters. It question the dichotomy of these new technologies.