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With everything happening in the world today, I believe it is more meaningful than ever to stay connected to your roots, to honor your ancestors and deepen your understanding of who they were, and who you are. Sometimes that connection comes through conversation, reading, or research. For me, it often happens through painting.

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When I paint, my energy and heart merge with the subject or person I’m portraying. Every time, it feels like I come home to myself a little bit more.
I believe that by looking back at your family, your history, where you come from,  you also look forward. It’s not always an easy journey. Sometimes it brings up difficult truths. But it also reveals the parts of yourself that need to be seen in order to grow.

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This is what the ROOTS series is about for me: connecting with my Black roots.
Painting this series felt like therapy and healing. For the works, I asked my father, a photographer,  to select pictures from our family archives. These images became my inspiration. Having my father involved in this process feels like everything coming full circle.