In my artistic practice, I delve into complex, often misunderstood aspects of human identity, specifically focusing on adoption, neurodiversity, stammering, and the experience in my late teen of joining a cult. These themes are deeply personal and have shaped both my inner world and my relationship with the outside one. Through my work, I aim to offer a nuanced exploration of how these forces converge in the formation of selfhood, belonging, and alienation.

Adoption is a foundational thread in my narrative, as it speaks to the sense of displacement and the quest for identity that often accompanies being raised outside of biological ties. My work interrogates the tension between the “chosen” and the “given,” the concept of belonging and the existential void that adoption sometimes creates. This theme is not only about loss, but also about the possibility of reinvention, of being made anew, even within the confines of others’ expectations and histories.

Neurodiversity is a lens through which I understand the world. As someone whose brain processes information differently, I engage with the idea of cognitive variance not as a disorder but as a rich source of creative potential. Whether through fragmented narratives, distorted visuals, or irregular rhythms, my work mirrors the experience of existing in a world that often demands conformity to neurotypical standards. By embracing this divergence, I hope to highlight both the challenges and the extraordinary ways that neurodiverse minds can perceive and interact with the world.

Stammering—a speech impediment that I have navigated my entire life—is both a physical and psychological experience that intersects with my identity as an artist. It is a daily negotiation with language, sound, and silence. Stammering, to me, represents not just a limitation, but a profound way of engaging with speech. It challenges notions of fluency and control, and as such, it becomes a powerful metaphor for the ways in which we all struggle to express our deepest selves. Through my artwork, I explore how speech falters and how meaning is still found in the spaces between words.

Finally, my exploration of joining a cult reflects a personal journey into the dynamics of power, submission, and the search for meaning. Cults, by nature, are about the formation of an identity that is both collective and distinct, offering a sense of belonging in exchange for the surrender of individuality. In my art, I wrestle with this paradox—the desire to belong versus the risk of losing oneself. This theme is often explored through symbolic imagery, ritualistic patterns, and group dynamics, interrogating both the seductive and destructive qualities of ideologies that promise salvation.

Ultimately, my work seeks to challenge normative understandings of identity, communication, and belonging. It reflects the messy, contradictory, and ever-evolving ways we navigate the world as individuals who are at once part of and separate from larger systems. Through abstraction, performance, and immersive installations, I invite viewers to witness the intersection of these personal experiences and to consider how our identities—formed through adoption, neurodivergence, stammering, and the search for belonging—are not static, but always in flux.