I am a multidisciplinary artist exploring identity, heritage, and community through a deep connection to my ancestry and cultural roots. I see art as a bridge between generations—a vehicle for storytelling, healing, and transformation. My practice is a continuation of the oral histories shared by my family, and a meticulous tracking of the bloodlines rooted in Chapman’s Place Plantation lineage.
Inspired by the theatrical form of Ethno Theatre, which centers lived experiences, cultural memory, and community voice, I ground my work in truth-telling and embodied narratives. This influence shapes how I gather, interpret, and present stories—honoring both personal and collective histories as vital sources of knowledge and creation.
Working across performance and visual art, I create experiences reflecting the resilience, beauty, and complexity of the Black family. My work seeks to reclaim that identity by crafting with my hands, using my family history, and ancestral motifs to navigate the path back to self.
My project, The Bergamot Crown, centers these ideas through immersive storytelling and visual works and mixed-media form of portraiture. Each portrait carries a layered presence, where faces emerge through textured surfaces of dried flowers, fabric, acrylic paint, and textiles. This form of portraiture becomes a tactile and a symbolic expression. By incorporating mediums, I gently transform the viewer from an observer into a participant.
I aim to create an environment where audiences do not just witness history, but physically correlate their own “sweet” memories with the work. My goal is not to provoke trauma, but to provide a sanctuary for reflection, honor, and the enduring strength of the family tree.
