Coffee Table Syndrome

16 × 20 inches
Oil on canvas
2026
$500

This painting presents a visual contrast between intimacy and exclusion. Set in a red room, a Delftware-inspired blue-and-white coffee pot, cup, and saucer sit in the foreground. The ceramic patterning echoes traditional Dutch decorative ware, yet instead of pastoral scenes, the imagery embedded in the blue-and-white surface depicts the experience of Dinner Table Syndrome—the isolation of a Deaf individual surrounded by conversation that is not accessible to them.

The cup features the “I Love You” handshape from American Sign Language, transforming a familiar domestic object into a symbol of Deaf identity, affection, and resilience. What might normally signify warmth and hospitality instead becomes layered with commentary about communication access within family spaces.

The red wall intensifies the emotional atmosphere. It is patterned with dandelion leaves inspired by the work of Clayton Valli, whose iconic dandelion metaphor represents the resilience and persistence of Deaf people and ASL. The yellow dandelions printed on the red tablecloth reinforce this symbolism—dandelions thrive despite attempts to uproot them, much like Deaf culture endures despite systemic barriers.

The painting transforms a quiet still life into a powerful cultural statement about access, belonging, and Deaf identity.