First off, how are you feeling today? What’s on your mind? I'm feeling energized and contemplative. I'm thankful for everything going on in my life.

How did you first find your passion and, ultimately, your creative outlet/voice in painting and creating? My parents showed me that making something from what seems like nothing is not only possible, it's what makes us human. Growing up, construction and design were integral parts of my life. My parents still work in the industry and had me work alongside them at a young age so I could get an appreciation of the work and the materials. Initially, I felt the weight of their business, but now I feel it in my hands—painting these interiors is like working from the inside of architecture out. Artists are supposed to think outside of the box, but I think even to do that you need to be able to see it from the inside and then think around it.

Who are your influences today? Larry Clark, Stanley Kubrick, Philip Guston, Alison Jackson, Marco Pierre White.

In reference to space, how do you personally feel New York as a place has stimulated and inspired your creativity?Producing work at night after being out in the city has been an important part of my balancing art here. Being inspired by the people you spend time with is only rewarding when you don't waste that time comparing yourself to others. There's always something else going on tomorrow here.

A few words to describe your work: Unpredictable, raw, and sometimes a little controversial. I mean, if your art doesn't provoke, what's the point?

How has your style progressed? Take us through '23, and how things are evolving into where you're at now?2023 marked a shift to larger canvases and a deeper dive into oil paints, allowing me to capture historical and emotional depth with greater intensity.

You were a part of a showing at Rusha & Co.in LA last year. How did that come about? Was this your first exhibition/live showing? It was an honor to be part of a showing at Rusha & Co., a fine art gallery, and the show was a crucial first stepping stone for me. Selecting the work was more challenging than I thought it would be. There is a lot of stress facing young artists these days, so when I was invited and learned about the theme, I took the invitation seriously. I would like to thank Guy Rusha and Vincent Thorpe for including me in the show.
 

Describe your work in the Rusha & Co. group show 'Hat Trick.' I titled the work "What Once Was." At Gramercy Park Hotel the lobby was always bustling. In the painting, the lobby is empty but still full of residual energy. I wanted it to look as if it had been sketched on hotel letterhead, acting as a hallmark of the past while also depicting the presence still felt in the space many years later. I've been collecting more items from the hotel itself, which will be something to look for in future works from this series.

What does Gramercy Park Hotel mean to you?The image from "what once was" is almost burnt into my mind from spending so much of my teenage years at Gramercy Park Hotel. It's where I was baptized as a New Yorker. It's not just a hotel; it's where I met the muses of my youth. It's where art and life danced, stumbled, and sometimes fell over—but always got back up.

Looking ahead, where do you see your work taking you this year and beyond? In terms of your work, in what direction do you hope to move? I am driven to create art that resonates deeply and challenges conventional perceptions. My work explores the complexities of human existence and the subtleties of space and time. Feeling uninspired by the repetitiveness of our consumption, I am pushing to craft pieces that provoke thought and provide incisive commentary. This year, I'm focused on deepening my exploration of these themes, aiming to not only provoke and inspire but also transform how we interact with art. Expect the unexpected —I'm here to reinvent, urging viewers to confront vivid, often unsettling truths.