Falling From Paradise 2024
Latex, enamel, India ink and resin
20 feet x 20 feet

Falling from Paradise draws inspiration from my recently rediscovered high school journal entries that

reflect the trauma of feeling different from those around me. Current world events echo that time with

striking parallels to the world I witness today. A world filled with mistrust of “others” and daily traumas

that make imagining a future grounded in love and understanding seem nearly impossible.

This personal history informs my research into identity through the lenses of nature and nurture. As

an adopted, mixed-race American, my work probes how I came to be the person I am today. Raised

by my adoptive Catholic father in a predominantly white, racially-biased community, I grew up not

knowing my biological parents and endured racial slurs and degrading nicknames such as “Rice Paddy

Picking Slanty-eyed Gook” and “China.”

These experiences shape my creative work—whether large-scale installations, murals, paintings, film,

or prints. I believe that this personal exploration resonates on a broader level, offering insights and

meaning for a diverse audience.