ABOUT

I am a Cleveland-based artist creating works with handmade paper and mixed media, often layered, that are deeply rooted in how I drew as a child and continue to draw today.

My work is all about my memories, inspired by how I remember the grid drawings of my childhood. I explore these memories (or rather my personal reconstructions of them) to serve as a commentary on the way in which we all create our own versions of the past in order to move forward from pain.

My process is a cycle between safety and survival.

Safety, in that I often start too cautiously, sometimes filling a shape with dots for hours to avoid the harder choices and to protect myself from making a “mistake.” This can result in no connection to the piece, no problem to solve, and the work feels contrived. So I’ll flip the paper and start again. 

Each piece is a battle for survival. If I do not connect to it, it gets cut up, and I hope that one day those remnants will become part of something that resonates.

I have shown my work throughout Northeast Ohio, as well as in Columbus, Ohio, and Brooklyn, New York. I also started a project called ActLoCLE, a web-based art hub that provides community and visibility for makers in the region.

Press/Links:
Spotlight @ Heights Arts

Josh Chefitz + Robert Falcone @ Lindsay Gallery

Heights Observer: Heights Arts ignites reflection with two shows