The American West and its mythic characters are consistently used to express national ideals. I use the past, specifically that of the West, to expose my own perspective of the present and to challenge the myths that have endured. Within my own body of work, I examine contemporary issues through the use of historical narratives, Western archetypes, and our perception of the past. The genre provides an identifiable image that is uniquely connected to the American experience; the visual language of the West provides an opportunity to explore topics of American life and its distorted realities.

Like the Westerns I grew up watching, my own work is camouflaged under a veil of nostalgia. The figures in my work are often portrayed against stark backgrounds, which forces the viewer to recognize the myth before the critique exposes itself. Observation, methodical research, and imagination are essential to my process.

By using the West, a subject I both am familiar with and continue to question, I aim to engage with our inherent perceptions of the past and the myths embedded within.