My work explores the overlapping experiences with gender dysphoria, mental health, monstrosity and disgust. I make a mixture of sculpture and performance objects that are meant to disturb and disgust the audience by contorting humanoid forms into new gruesome lifeforms.

Using special effects materials like silicone and casting plastics along with scavenged and sometimes crude materials, I assemble monsters. By using human and animal materials (bones, teeth, hair, fur, etc) I bring the living world into my creatures, making them a little more lifelike.

Inspired by the squeamish and sometimes humorous practical effects of 80’s horror and the colorful personalities of Jim Henson’s worlds, I try to emulate the experience of feeling disgust toward yourself alongside the more comical and outrageous moments that come with being a human being. Recently I have been considering how friendly a monster can be without losing the audience’s disgust using a mixture of silicone, collected hair, and my own baby teeth. I made a monster that smiles at the audience, and really being quite friendly despite the wincing faces before him.

I firmly believe in the power of practical effects, especially in horror media. Having a real presence in the process of filming makes the monster seem that much more real to the actors and audiences.

Horror is a cultural touchstone that unites us- it is so ingrained in humanity to use horror to discuss difficult topics that it becomes a sort of universal language, and monstrosity is a significant part of that. I hope to continue my exploration of beautifully disgusting monsters, and I am looking forward to the new audiences I might have the pleasure of disturbing.