Cortisone (2018)

In January 2018, I developed a sharp pain in my lower back, radiating down my left leg. Three doctors and an MRI later, I learned I had two herniated discs. I wore a back brace for several months, did physical therapy for the better part of a year, and received three cortisone shots. As I continued to work in the studio, I began incorporating materials such as rags, nails, and chicken wire into new sculptural paintings: searching to physically embody the pain that defined my every moment, yet remained invisible to others. Chronic pain can feel messy and isolating. While I'm doing a lot better now, this injury continues to impact my life and my art.