Exhibition Proposal

Testimony for the Vanishing is a collection of original paintings centered on endangered species, approached first and foremost as individual lives rather than symbols or stand-ins. The work resists abstraction, focusing instead on presence, character, and specificity. Some paintings unfold through layered, intricate compositions that situate each animal within a web of environmental, historical, and human pressures. Others are intentionally restrained, stripping away context to hold the subject still and allow it to be seen without narrative interruption.

Across the exhibition, these approaches are unified through recurring imagery and a shared visual language. Shifting between complexity and clarity, scale and intimacy, the work asks viewers to reckon with both the singular animal before them and the larger forces shaping its fate.

Key Ideas / Viewer Experience

Individuality and Presence
Each painting is rooted in the specific character, form, and presence of a single animal. Rather than centering the work on threat or decline, the paintings emphasize what makes each species distinct; its physical beauty, its strangeness, and its inherent value as a living being.

Modes of Attention
The exhibition brings together two visual approaches: works that are layered and symbolically rich, and restrained portraits that remove context entirely. This shift is not about explanation, but about recalibrating attention. It offers multiple conditions for seeing, allowing viewers to consider and remain with each subject without distraction.

Sustained Engagement
The work encourages sustained engagement, inviting viewers to remain with each animal as an individual presence and creating space for meaning to emerge through observation rather than explanation.

Methods & Materials

These works are created in acrylic on canvas and wood panel. Each painting is deliberately composed with attention to scale, pacing, and the viewer’s physical and visual encounter with the work.

In the more elaborate compositions, symbolism and surreal elements are used to construct visual environments that extend from the character and presence of each animal. These narrative elements function less as literal explanation and more as associative structures. They guide attention, shaping atmosphere, and deepening engagement with the subject.

By contrast, the more iconic portraits rely on restraint. Context is reduced to its minimum so that focus remains on the animal itself. Subtle, recurring motifs create continuity across the body of work without competing for attention.

Across both approaches, decisions of scale, detail, and symbolism are made in service of sustained engagement. The use of traditional painting materials is intentional, reinforcing a sense of care, permanence, and the kind of attention the work asks of its viewer.

Installation & Technical Requirements

Testimony for the Vanishing is designed as a wall-based exhibition with flexible scale. The work can be adapted to a range of gallery sizes and layouts.

The exhibition consists of approximately 15–25 paintings, with sizes ranging from 12 × 16 inches to 18 × 24 inches, with the potential inclusion of a larger-format centerpiece currently in development. Works are intended for standard wall installation using conventional hanging hardware. No specialized mounting systems or equipment are required.

The exhibition does not require audio-visual components, electrical access, or special lighting beyond standard gallery conditions. Spacing between works may vary depending on the venue, allowing for either a more immersive installation or a restrained, contemplative presentation.

An artist talk or informal discussion can be offered if desired, though no public programming is required for the exhibition to function successfully.

Artist Statement

My work centers on animals, using painting as a way to examine individuality, presence, and ways of seeing. I am drawn to species that are often overlooked or misunderstood, approaching each subject as a singular being rather than a symbol or illustration.

Visually, the work exists between realism and surrealism. Carefully rendered forms are paired with symbolic and atmospheric elements to create images that feel grounded yet otherworldly. This balance allows me to emphasize the distinct character of each animal while opening a visual space that invites reflection rather than explanation.

I work primarily in acrylic on canvas and wood panel, moving between two complementary approaches. Some paintings are layered and symbolically rich, allowing imagery to accumulate in response to the specific nature of each animal. Others are more restrained and iconic, reducing context so that attention rests solely on the subject. This pared-down approach also allows the work to expand across a wider range of species, reflecting the breadth and urgency of the issue itself. Subtle recurring motifs connect these approaches and establish continuity across the practice.

Across my work, traditional painting functions as a tool for attention. Through controlled detail, deliberate composition, and a surreal visual vocabulary, the paintings create space for sustained looking—an encounter with each animal as an individual presence rather than a generalized idea.

Curriculum Vitae

Education
BFA, Illustration & Graphic Design with minor in Painting Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN, 2001

Solo Exhibitions
Solar Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Columbia, MO, 2023

Invitational Exhibitions
Revolution Art Gallery, Three-Person Exhibition, Rochester, NY, 2025
Ol’ Blue Gallery, Special Guest Artist, Hannibal, MO, 2023

Gallery Representation
Missouri Artists on Main Gallery, MO, 2017–present
Main & Market Gallery (formerly Lady LaMarsh Gallery), MO, 2019–present
Artisans in the Loop, MO, 2021–present

Awards
Artsfest on Walnut, Best Booth Award, 2025
Queeny Park Art Fair, 2D Award, 2024
Edwardsville Art Fair, Award of Excellence, 2023
Queeny Park Art Fair, Award of Excellence, 2023
Midwest Salute to the Arts, Award of Excellence, 2022

Publications & Interviews
Bold Journey, Artist Interview, 2025
Voyage STL, Artist Interview, 2025
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Artist Interview, 2023
KOPN 89.5 FM, Radio Interview, 2022

Professional Affiliations
St. Louis Lady’s Art Guild, Board Member & Event Coordinator, 2024–present
Best of Missouri Hands, Juried Member
Greater St. Louis Arts Association, Juried Member & Volunteer