My inspiration comes from the legendary stoop stories of my father’s boyhood in New York, where the urban environment was as much a character as any of the people. I am also stimulated and strengthened by current artists and musicians who stand for authenticity and artistic integrity.
My work is meant to engage the viewer. In ‘the stoop series,’ I deliberately hide the faces of the urban dwellers in order break whatever stereotypes their faces might inspire and to arouse curiosity and personal interpretation on the part of the onlooker. And in ‘the umbrella series,’ I exaggerate the hair of well-known artists to complement my vision and to fill in the negative space between the artists and the world above ground. It often stimulates conversation around the role hair sometimes plays in artistic expression.
