My work examines the internal and external manifestations of anxiety, exploring the delicate relationship between the two and my ongoing attempts to bring order to chaos. I create batik collages that are illuminated from within by found-object medical x-ray boxes. This juxtaposition allows me to contrast a deeply personal, tactile art form with the cold, clinical glow of diagnostic light.

Initially, the artwork appears opaque, hiding certain elements from view; it requires the viewer to physically touch and switch on the box to reveal what lies beneath, shifting their perception of the image through an intimate interaction.

My process begins by hand-dyeing raw cotton fabrics, using hot wax resists and layered dyes to build intricate repetitive patterns. I then cut these textiles into intuitive symbols and shapes, pairing them with the hidden imagery of Midwestern fauna—creatures that carry complex, dual meanings of both threat and protection. Through these figures, I explore the idea that anxiety functions as two things simultaneously: both an enemy and a friend. Ultimately, these illuminated pieces invite viewers to pause and reflect on their own relationships with anxiety, and how they allow it to manifest in their lives.