Painting: Oil on Canvas

I painted this piece when I had just confirmed my acceptance into UCI. I was prepared to leave my home and my family and begin my journey at college. Every time I look at this piece, I see my family standing in front of me and influencing my life and who I am, and even though I am my own person, they built me up to be the strong woman I am today.

Painting

Nonbiney Flowers was painted in Winter 2021. Supportive people in my life like Jennifer Sears in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA helped me accept that my gender identity can be messy and organic like the flowers shown here in the colors of the nonbinary pride flag.

Mixed Media

“The Too Much Gene” is about healing while being a sensitive person dealing with words I’ve been told and tell myself. If others have felt this way I want them to know they are just the right amount. We can rise above these words that make us doubt ourselves. The first step is acknowledging the inner critic and then making it more compassionate.

Charcoal on Paper Drawing

This piece is part of a series exploring the inner experience and outward expression of raw, powerful emotions. Learning to navigate the full spectrum of our shared human emotions is a lifelong healing journey that requires vulnerability, courage, and compassion. The piece was created using a subtractive method of drawing by erasing.

Charcoal on Paper Drawing

This piece is part of a series exploring the inner experience and outward expression of raw, powerful emotions. Learning to navigate the full spectrum of our shared human emotions is a lifelong healing journey that requires vulnerability, courage, and compassion. The piece was created using a subtractive method of drawing by erasing.

Mixed Media Sculpture

For this year’s theme, I wanted to create a piece that was symbolic. Therefore, I created a skyscraper rising above a storm cloud. The skyscraper represents us, while the storm cloud represents the challenges we face. The top of the skyscraper rising above the storm cloud is representative of how people rise above the challenges in their lives.

Computer Generated Imagery

Even though it hurts to live and wake up everyday, life will eventually turn around. This work shows the suffering. Even though we have people supporting us, or not, it’s up to us to find our own ways and only we can get ourselves there. In the words of Brian Wilson,” I know there’s an answer. I know now but I have to find it by myself.”

Film Photography

Life is like a tree, strong, alone, and born to the sun. One side is facing the light, growing and positive outwardly, and the other side is covered in shadow, struggling painfully without anyone knowing. Things that went through are interwoven into the shape, even if full of gaps, but the sun will come through, and soothe the heart.

Ink Illustration

This piece was inspired by Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and represents the feeling of being lost or stuck, but still staying afloat with the support of others.

Photography

I came up with this piece after being inspired by refracted light and how it can alter the telling of a story. In this photograph, it allowed me to capture the feeling of the subjects’ past watching the present, who in turn are facing the indistinct future.

Animated Short

Based on the poem “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth, my piece juxtaposes his well-known romantic era words with my own feelings and experiences in quarantine. Even in times of loneliness, there will be something beautiful, some sort of “daffodils,” that bring you joy. They will be there to lift you up and support you through the darkest times.

To view Daffodils in Quarantine, click here.

Drawing

“One Home” is a drawing made from reflecting on my relationship with my body as a woman. Our society tells us that we can’t love ourselves until we’re a certain size, shape, or amount. I think we can all rise above these expectations and choose a different path of radical self- acceptance in a society that profits off of us disliking ourselves.

Painting

Transgender Seychelles Sunrise was painted in April 2020 as a reflection on the gender transition experience. Like the individual components of transitioning, the individual points of color are chaotic and unorganized but together they make a cohesive, beautiful whole in the colors of the transgender pride flag.

Drawing

My piece represents how healing and new ideas or levels of perception can be experienced through the work of another person. My inspiration came from experiencing healing when I am with friends or family who I feel close to. I can touch and recognize them beyond just what I see or hear from them but a more inner feeling of connection. I feel this is the greatest form of healing one can come across.

Collage

This piece was inspired by my own personal struggles with health and stress. The jawbone represents my diagnosis of arthritis in the TMJ. The mushrooms represent the ability to grow in dark circumstances/environments. They represent that we can thrive even in darkness.

Photography

Due to the rise of affirmation on social media, Rehana and I planned a picnic at the beach with roses and candy hearts to celebrate her beauty and character. I encourage everyone to treat themselves to a romantic date.

Photography

Coming out of the pandemic, Dom and I left our fears and anxieties behind; we salted the past. We pursue vibrant and unlimited possibilities.

Photography

This piece is inspired by refracted light and how it changes the story of reality. It was my hope it evokes the idea that beauty and intrigue are all around, waiting to be found.

Digital Painting

This painting represents resilience and self-healing. As we reflect on ourselves and the role we play in our communities, we must have strength as individuals in order to empower others and fight for social change. Even at our lowest points, when it seems everything has shattered into a million pieces, we must accept ourselves and recognize that we have the strength inside us and our community to pick up the pieces and ultimately find peace within.

Photography

On the first day of the Spring quarter, I was surprised by the breath-taking view of the campus. The campus was covered with a beautiful view. Trees becoming bare of leaves were replaced with ones full of flowers. Winter passed, and spring came. I felt peaceful and enjoyed walking around campus to explore gorgeous scenes.