As a woman of color, I feel it is imperative that black and brown communities see ourselves in positive images representative of life, all parts of life, especially in images around Mental Health. My passion for mental health and community work drives my art. I believe that art has the power to heal and bring communities together. Within my community, there is a stigma surrounding mental illness that I believe needs to end. Through my artistry, I aim to create narratives that promote well-being and challenge societal stigmas surrounding mental health. I attribute the inspiration behind this artistic passion to my immediate family, their mental health journeys and how their journeys ended.  In 2021, I suffered the devastating losses of both my mother and sister, following the passing of my father in 2006, which profoundly affected my mental well-being. As a result, I embarked on a deeply personal journey to confront my own mental health and trauma through the lens. To process the whirlwind of emotions I was grappling with, I turned the camera on myself, documenting the raw manifestations of my mental health struggles and began to share them publicly. My mission: to push back against the prevailing perception because no one should feel like they can’t speak about what they’re dealing with mentally and/or emotionally.  It is a very vulnerable process, especially allowing others to view these images, but it has been healing and the catalyst for so many connections and conversations that may have not happened otherwise. Honestly by extending this powerful healing experience to others, guiding them on their path to self-understanding and offering a true reflection of themselves, I feel that the conversations that my images spark could save someone’s life.

I am a very passionate about creative practice, my impact within my community, and the quality of work that I provide. I understand that, for some of us, images can become the only tangible thing that we have left to remember the people, places, and things closest to us. They are a token of moments we can't replicate or repeat.