illustrations Reflecting the horrors we live with.
Content warnings: Mental illness, trauma, self harm, suicide, death and dying, medical trauma, bodily harm and blood, religious themes, nudity, and other disturbing imagery.
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“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable” - Cesar A. Cruz
My art reflects the horrors we live with every day - what’s directly in front of us, the content we consume, the fears lurking behind us, and the parts we hide in our minds. Throughout my life, drawing has allowed me to express myself. With my personal experience in mental health and medical challenges, I find it cathartic to put my thoughts and emotions onto paper and share my story. I’m also inspired by the mesmerizing horrors of Junji Ito and the raw expressiveness of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Each piece is first created with mainly ballpoint pen, but I also may include India ink, acrylic, graphite, or copics. Then I use digital editing to enhance the contrast and harshness. These elements, paired with the dark themes I explore in my illustrations, are meant to be provocative, uncomfortable, and emotionally intense. I believe this leads to reflection and connection within ourselves and with one another. As well, I play around with different dichotomies such as beauty and horror, dark and light, imperfection and innocence. I hope my art encourages meaningful reflection and leads to a common understanding that while life can be horrifying, it is also what makes us human.
