I grew up in Northfield, MN, a small college town surrounded by corn and soybean fields, woods, and prairie. Spending time in nature, watching it change, and experiencing the many ways people influence the natural world has greatly informed by artistic interests. After graduating from Carleton College in 2021 with majors in studio art and chemistry, I came to UW-Madison to pursue a PhD in chemistry. Although I focused mostly on printmaking during college, now I have transitioned more drawing and hopefully some ceramics once I find a studio. My cat Rio likes to help me with my work whenever he can

Artist Statement

According to Liam Heneghan, professor of environmental science and studies at DePaul University, “only rock is environmentally friendly; living entities are environmentally transformative.” From climate change and pollution to urban sprawl and the loss of wild spaces, our relationship with the environment has been pushed to the breaking point. The next few decades will determine the future of our homes, our planet, and our humanity.

Art is a means to explore and question the relationship between humans and the natural world. Where does our society find beauty in nature? How do we relate to and alter our environment? What might the future of the human habitat hold? Rather than present decisive views or advocate specific action, I use my art to examine the interactions between manufactured and natural forms, hopefully prompting viewers to reflect on humanity’s relationship to the environment. 

I am also interested in exploring how our perception of an object changes when it becomes functional. Can it still be “natural”? Can it still be “Art”? What can our answers teach us about our innate desire to exploit, protect or manage the environment? I want my to be a dynamic space in which to contemplate questions of environmental coexistence and examine the border between natural and artificial, real and imaginary. 

As I reflect on my work and my daily life, I am struck by the beauty of the natural world around me and constantly reminded of my hopes and fears for our planet. We depend on the natural world for survival, and our fate is irrevocably tied to environmental health. In the words of Henegan, “an undomesticated future planet is one without humans.” I hope that my art will prompt viewers to reflect on the importance of the natural world and critically consider our relationship to it.