Artist Statement

Combining 2D, 3D, and 4D media, my body of work explores the dualities of farming.- it’s invisibility and necessity, risk and reward, ancient history and future possibilities. Exploring the connections between societal perceptions of agriculture and personal and familial narratives has required research, interpretation, outreach, and introspection. Throughout my study of art and agriculture I have developed a curiosity for perspectives different from my own and found a reservoir of absurdity while mending my own ignorance.

I began making artwork about agriculture in 2017 after the oldest barn on my family’s property burnt down. I knew from a young age that I would not take over running the family farm. Partly because of the general expectation that it is the role of sons to continue farming traditions-but more importantly,  because I feared being tied to the land. Because of these conflicted feelings, I avoided making artwork about farming or agriculture —feeling that I would be an impostor or worse, an exploiter. After three generations of my family working the land, I will be responsible in part for the death of our family farm.

In the wake of the fire, that feeling of guilt was met with a sense of responsibility. Agriculture is one of the most immediate ties between environmental and social issues, and it can make or break both. I felt the need to learn not only about my family’s work, but about farming traditions, and ultimately the future of agriculture. Witnessing the barn burn firsthand, I saw that what we think of as a timeless practice can disappear or change overnight. 

It’s easy to overlook the labor, natural resources, and innovation that is required to meet the needs of a growing global population, but I believe it is possible to develop an artistic dialogue about the ethical and environmental implications of our modern need for convenience while  highlighting the labor, necessity, and traditions of growing nutritious food.