a portrait of the artist in objects

This piece, A Portrait of the Artist in Objects, will be available to bid on at the upcoming Give to Get Art auction at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)!

I feel bittersweet about donating it. While it was a piece I worked incredibly hard on, put several hours into, and cherished personally for a long time, I feel I’ve grown out of the me that this self-portrait portrayed. I love the playfulness it demonstrates, and it certainly captured me in that time of my life, but I’ve been doing a lot of growing and I need to move on from the me this once represented.

I’m excited to make a new version. I can’t wait to go through my belongings and find what defines me now. I think even just these last three months can bring forth new objects that better represent me now.

The objects in this 2024 work are old. I have things that represent bad habits; smoking, drugs, binge eating, self-worship, and self-harm through casual sex and hookups. This no longer defines me. I’ve shed these bad habits and I’m ready to recreate my object portrait with good intentions and hope.