My work investigates the otherworldly and unknown aspects of our universe, specifically regarding UFOs, that my family and I have personally witnessed. Using neon colors that represent the intensity of the moment, science fiction imagery, and kinetic movement, my paintings and sculptures replicate what many people would argue as unbelievable events. These visual encounters then become an opportunity for the viewer to also experience this mind-blowing phenomena. I incorporate research from the British National Archives, which suspended the collection of UFO reports in 2008 and released all previous reports of sightings they received from civilians. I weave these repeated sightings with my own, and through these recurrences, I provoke the viewer's imagination to make them question the skepticism surrounding flying saucers.
Science fiction is seen as an exaggeration, but my art is proving through an abundance of historical precedent that popular science fiction imagery has a basis in reality. This sentiment is echoed through materiality- paintings include glitter, metal, candy wrappers, lights, and paper towels on canvas to elevate kitsch to the realm of fine art- people’s attraction to ‘cheap’ or ‘craft’ materials proves that they are rooted in valid artistic expression. Furthermore, the work is a way for me to investigate the invisible connections formed between people who have witnessed the same unidentified phenomena, either at the same time or on different occasions. Might they have something in common other than a shared visual memory? What are the connections between those people and the culprit of the phenomenon, and what does it mean to be the person who looks up at the right time? Is it a coincidence that certain people and families experience multiple sightings in one lifetime, or are they some sort of target?