In my early years, I often attached myself to groups without understanding my place within them. I knew I was supposed to belong, even when the interactions felt confusing or unkind. I didn’t yet have the language to understand why.

I still struggle to pick up social cues. 

Autism shaped my interest in creating portraits from as early as I can remember. I spent much of my life studying people to learn how to fit in and make sense of things that seemed obvious to everyone but me. Before my diagnosis, I was told I had a staring problem. I wasn’t judging. I was trying to understand how to exist among others.

That habit of observation never left me. In my artwork, I can study expressions without the pressure to respond correctly or quickly. Looking closely at people is something I've been doing for most of my life, and painting portraits feels like a natural extension of that.

This series centers on strangers. Each month introduces a new face. People without names, histories, or explanations. Just the opportunity to look a little longer.

A face is immediately readable, yet never fully known. 

What started as a way of understanding people eventually became one of the most meaningful parts of my life. They are reminders that connection doesn’t require familiarity, and that before we are known, everyone was a stranger once.