Art Of Reclamation: A Self Portrait Study of Acrylic On Canvas (“Genesis” Explained)

I think there’s a lot that goes into each peace that I work on. I guess you could say the ideas just come and then I release them out into the world. Sharing my insides with the world is a true act of vulnerability. Sharing my work with the work with the world is a love story I feel like I’ll never stop writing.

Building and now completed “Genesis” reminded me a lot about my beliefs. Belief systems have become a taboo topic of mine. Up until recently my rule is if the topic arises, I give myself permission to feel safe. I allow myself to engage just for the sake of engaging. I take my time to listen to whom I’m speaking with and vice versa.

My completed self portrait is by far one of many accomplishments this year. I managed to piece the triptych all together just hours before my pick up time (which was 11am on Tuesday morning). With only two Red-bulls in and my eyes puffy from the only 1hour nap I got. “It was all worth it though,” my Papa said to me.

The initial motivation behind “Genesis” started back in [insert month of] 2022. I had just moved to New York and I wanted to challenge myself to create a portrait of myself with the little material I had. Working in my apartment of my only studio space and I had to make it work for what it was giving.