Artist Statement

In the deepest parts of the ocean, where sunlight can’t reach, life still thrives. Microbes feed on chemicals from hydrothermal vents, proving that life doesn’t need the sun to exist. This process, called chemosynthesis, has reshaped our understanding of where life can exist, both on Earth and beyond.

My paintings explore this shift in perception. While we often look to the stars to feel awe, I turn our gaze back to Earth. Through detailed, realistic depictions of natural organisms, I invite viewers to see the infinite complexity in the terrestrial. As Georgia O’Keeffe said, “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment.”

I aim to evoke the same smallness and wonder we feel when looking at the cosmos, reminding us that the mysteries we seek in space may already be alive beneath our feet.