You Can Help Me? awarded the Cecilia Picon Award by NAWA New York

Levonovich Gallery, New York, NY

June 5, 2026- June 27, 2026

My work is rooted in observation, empathy, and a commitment to bringing awareness to both social and environmental issues. Across my oeuvre, I have developed two primary bodies of work: a series focused on homelessness and another centered on endangered/threatened species. Though distinct in subject, both series reflect a shared intention to illuminate overlooked narratives and foster a deeper sense of connection.

The homelessness series emerged from direct experience. While volunteering with the Homeless Outreach Program(HOP) on Skid Row in Los Angeles, I created visual materials to support their mission and spent time on the streets helping alongside a woman I befriended, Arzena. Once homeless herself, she worked with the organization checking in on people in Skid Row, using her lived experience to build trust and connect with them in a deeply meaningful way. These encounters profoundly shaped my understanding of dignity, resilience, and invisibility within urban life. The work that followed seeks not only to document, but to humanize—to challenge viewers to look closer and engage more deeply.

My interest in the natural world has been lifelong. I had the unique opportunity to assist my uncle at his big cat refuge, where I spent weekends helping care for and photographing animals such as tigers, mountain lions, and snow leopards. This early exposure fostered a lasting respect for wildlife and conservation. Later, as an illustrator for the Indianapolis Zoo, I worked from direct observation-drawing animals in their environments, swimming with dolphins, and studying penguins within their habitat. These experiences continue to inform my work, particularly my series addressing endangered/threatened species, where I explore both the beauty and fragility of the natural world.

I earned my BFA after studying Fine Art at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles. During this time, I had the privilege of studying under influential artists, such as Deborah Butterfield and David Willardson, who helped shape my approach to form, material, and concept. Following my academic training, I have completed numerous commissioned works, including large-scale portraits, landscapes, and murals, and have exhibited in galleries throughout the United States.

My work has been recognized with several awards, including the Bobbi Mastrangelo Award, the Cecilia Picon Award, honors for imagery, mixed media, and thematic impact, as well as inclusion in notable exhibitions. These recognitions affirm my ongoing commitment to creating work that is both visually compelling and conceptually meaningful.

At the core of my work is a fascination with the subtle complexities of both nature and the human condition—the interplay of light, texture, color, and form. I am particularly drawn to symbolism and the ways in which atmosphere and mood can shape interpretation. Ultimately, it is the challenge of weaving these elements together by balancing observation, emotion, and symbolism—that continues to inspire my work.