Immaculate Reflections

2021 – 2022

Acrylic paintings on canvas and wood

My current works examine various artistic expressions of individuality within societies by bonding elements of eastern and western visual art. I focus on the symbolic language of Tibetan esoteric Buddhist thangkas, Christian Iconography, as well as modern and contemporary Symbolist painters, as a means of expressing the sacred and the ineffable, to establish a specialized codification for my artistic process. In codifying these concepts, I have narrowed my palette to three colors: black, white, and gold.

My latest series consists of friends used as models for front view portraiture. I believe these individuals are modern-day embodiments of enlightened beings and deities in disguise. They have gone through considerable amounts of joy and suffering and have eventually found equanimity and balance in their lives. This, for me, is a true definition of a buddha, a saint, or even a God. They have not allowed the various hardships in their lives to limit their expression of unconditional love and servitude toward their fellow human.

The intention of these artworks is to take “ordinary” beings and empower them by portraying them as deities and enlightened beings, forcing us to reflect on our underlying greatness and become aware of our true limitless nature.