ABOUT THE

ARTIST

A journey through Deaf identity and visual activism.

EARLY LIFE

& EDUCATION

My journey began with a Deaf upbringing, where art was my first and most powerful form of communication. I learned to see the world through shapes and colors long before I mastered language, finding expression in the visual rhythms of life.

I pursued my passion professionally, attending the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and later the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where I refined my craft and developed a foundation in design that would eventually bridge into my activism.

Open CV

A Career of Design & Discovery

For many years, I worked as a graphic designer for major corporations including Xerox, 20th Century Fox, and Microsoft. This experience in the corporate world sharpened my understanding of visual communication and bold, clear messaging. However, it wasn’t until my return to painting around 2010 that I truly discovered my voice as a Deaf artist.

“Returning to my brushes allowed me to bridge the gap between my lived experience as a Deaf person and my creative expression. I realized that my art wasn’t just about beauty—it was about truth.”

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Artist Statement & Themes

My work centers on three interconnected themes: resistance, affirmation, and liberation. Through bold color, symbolic imagery, and layered compositions, I explore the history, identity, and lived experiences of Deaf people

Recurring symbols—hands, eyes, elephants, horses, strings, cracks, and bandages—form a visual language communicating Deaf culture and identity. Primary colors dominate my palette, often reinforced with monochrome passages to intensify emotional impact.

My paintings are both artistic expression and political statement, addressing social justice, human rights, and Deaf solidarity, while affirming empowerment and resilience.

ARTISTIC PROCESS

Inspired by Fauvist and Neo-Expressionist movements, I use highly saturated colors, expressive brushwork, and layered techniques. My approach includes:

  • “Direct painting – confident single-layer applications”

  • “Scrubbing & scumbling – texture and visual tension”

  • “Layering light to dark – building form and depth”