I am a painter and illustrator whose work focuses on my experiences as a gay transgender man in the United States of America. Some of my work delves into the intersection of my identity and the political atmosphere surrounding it. Other pieces depict the intense emotional pain I experienced due to a past relationship, as well as the difficulty in finding love as a trans person when much of my identity is fetishized or vilified. I often use motifs surrounding deer in my work as I relate to the animal's hardiness and willingness to survive despite the traumas they may face in their lives.

 

     In a country that is becoming increasingly aggressive towards transgender individuals, showcasing that we are just like anyone else — with our beauty and our blemishes — is crucial to my work. I also aim to spur conversation regarding the laws and orders that have been proposed and passed in recent years that seek to limit the freedoms transgender individuals are given.