Artist Statement: My artwork examines the space between who we present to the world and who we are within. I work from old photographs using charcoal or monochrome on wood and paper to explore the interplay between memory and identity. Photographs are vessels of stories, preserving a moment that might speak louder than words. Within a human form lies a life that is often more complex than the image reveals. The textures of wood and charcoal lend an added layer to my subjects, expressing the weight and wear of personal history, and how time marks us in subtle ways. I choose materials to reflect a desire to create art that feels tactile and grounded. My hope is to invite the viewer to consider their own layered interior, to explore what may lie beneath the surface, and to reflect on the tension between our projected selves and the truths we carry inside.