About the Artist:
I’ve always found comfort in places like forests and pillow forts, where the surroundings feel like a hug and, in the safety of that embrace, my imagination runs wild. My artwork captures the essence of childhood: spending days running around playing pretend and nights curled up under a blanket reading fairy tales.
As a second-generation artist, I spent my early years playing monkey bars on my parents’ scaffolding while they painted murals as On The Wall Productions (est. 1974) in my hometown of St. Louis. I got my first job washing brushes at the The MUNY Theater and later went on to earn a BFA in Fashion Design from Syracuse University. Until recently, I assumed everyone had a paint-clothes closet in their house.
Merging my love of large-scale painting with my understanding of 3D fabrication, I founded Sneaky Planet Studios in 2014 and began creating immersive artwork and experiences. I work in two- and three-dimensional mediums including painting, sculpting, sewing, and building to create fantasy worlds inspired by the environments around me. These worlds feature dreamy landscapes, intricate lore, and whimsical characters. My work draws inspiration from nature, Japanese yōkai, fairy tales, architecture, and wobbly foods. Influenced by my experiences with mental health, my characters serve as empathic imaginary friends as a way to connect with others. My art feels like stepping into the pages of a storybook.