I am inspired by the awkwardness of being alive and portraying moments of discomfort. Expectations push us to perform in all aspects of life; mimicking how people are expected to behave is my focus. A motif from my recent work is the smile, a symbol that embodies the pressures to alter one’s performance in social situations. I tend to gravitate toward humor to shine light on moments of embarrassment during human interactions. Though my work is playful, I take seriously thoughts about connection, intimacy, and belonging. Questions often raised examine how isolation and loneliness influence our ability to maintain and build healthy, meaningful relationships in the modern world.