THE CONCEPT FOR NUDES IN THE JUNGLE FIRST CAME TO ME IN THE SUMMER OF 2021. AT THE TIME, I HAD JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME (EDS), A CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDER THAT AFFECTS THE BODY FROM HEAD TO TOE AND MANIFESTS IN A VARIETY OF PAINFUL SYMPTOMS. ONE OF MY MOST PERSISTENT CHALLENGES WAS JOINT SUBLUXATIONS, WHICH WORSENED IN THE INTENSE SUMMER HEAT. I REMEMBER LYING ON THE FLOOR OF MY STUDIO, A FAN BLASTING ACROSS MY FACE, DAYDREAMING ABOUT BEING ON VACATION. YET TRAVEL WAS IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN THE SEVERITY OF MY ILLNESS.

IN THAT MOMENT, I IMAGINED AN ESCAPE—NEW BODIES SURROUNDED BY LUSH, TROPICAL FOLIAGE. I WONDERED IF CREATING THESE FIGURES WITHIN THRIVING NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS MIGHT DISTRACT ME FROM MY PHYSICAL PAIN OR EVEN HELP ME FIND WAYS TO SOOTHE IT. BY THEN, I HAD ALREADY BEEN “PAINTING WITH PAPER” FOR SOME TIME. ALTHOUGH THE IDEA OF USING TRADITIONAL PAINT BRIEFLY CROSSED MY MIND, I FELT CALLED TO CHALLENGE MYSELF AND EMBARKED ON CREATING WHAT WOULD BECOME MY LARGEST PAPER PAINTING TO DATE.

WHAT BEGAN AS AN ACT OF COMFORT SOON EVOLVED INTO SOMETHING MUCH GREATER. MIDWAY THROUGH COMPLETING THE PIECE, I REALIZED THE CONCEPT HELD DEEPER POSSIBILITIES. THIS VISION EXPANDED INTO AN ONGOING EXPLORATION, ULTIMATELY BECOMING THE NUDES IN NATURE SERIES—A BODY OF WORK BORN FROM PAIN BUT TRANSFORMED INTO A MEDITATION ON RESILIENCE, BEAUTY, AND THE HEALING POWER OF ART.