In my transition from the urban intensity of San Francisco to the pastoral rhythms of the French countryside at the Autumn Residency at Life Itself, I found myself shedding the achievement-oriented nature of existence that had informed my previous work. My new series, "Body Landscapes," emerges as a deliberate counterpoint to my earlier "Face x Lift" series, marking a significant evolution in both my artistic practice and personal philosophy.
Where "Face x Lift" explored the tension between effort and aesthetics—the striving to surpass expectations and the physical manifestation of that struggle—"Body Landscapes" embraces a more contemplative approach. The French countryside, with its unhurried pace and natural beauty, invited me to reconsider what it means to simply exist without the constant pressure to prove one's worth or beauty.
Butte, 2024
Overhang, 2024
These works capture the profound realization that a landscape doesn't strive to be beautiful—it simply is. Similarly, the human body need not constantly perform or transform itself to justify its existence. In these paintings, I explore the topography of the human form as terrain, with valleys, mountains, and horizons that exist in perfect harmony with their surroundings, requiring no validation beyond their inherent presence.
The soft contours and gentle palette of this series reflect the quiet revelation that came to me during my time away: that there is immense power in surrender, in letting go of the effortful ways of being that modern urban life often demands. Each canvas becomes a meditation on acceptance, capturing moments where the body is allowed to exist without judgment or expectation.
Crag, 2024
Cave, 2024
"Body Landscapes" represents not just a stylistic departure but a philosophical one—a visual testament to the beauty found in releasing the need to constantly transform ourselves. These works invite viewers to reconsider their relationship with their own physical forms, to see themselves as natural landscapes worthy of contemplation rather than constant renovation.
Granite, 2024
Arch, 2024
In the shift from the raw intensity of "Face x Lift" to the quiet acceptance of "Body Landscapes," I've discovered that sometimes the most profound transformation comes not from striving, but from simply allowing oneself to be.
