I have developed a "pharma-pointillist" technique in my most recent works, in which I build up an image out of pill-shaped dots. Each pill shape is matched with the color of its branding and is infused with the specific pharmaceutical in question, such as ADHD medicine, antidepressants, birth control, erectile dysfunction pills, and opioids, injecting the painting with color and actual psychotropic drugs. To heighten the chemical nature of these works, I am primarily using synthetic surfaces such as polyester canvas, Tyvek, and Kevlar ballistic fabric, the latter of which adds another layer of violence to the work.
I'm interested in the relationship between the parallel development in Western Modernism of abstract forms of art and synthetic pharmaceutical and pigment production in the late 1800s. I use source images from contemporary advertising that are remarkably evocative of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting. These images allow me to explore how representation, abstraction, and chemical materiality infuse bodies and cultural narratives.
Tristes Nootropiques
2022
Addyi, Açaí, Albuterol, Amoxicillin, Aricept, Arnicare, Aspirin, Ativan, Benadryl, Benzonatate, Cardizem, Cefuroxime Axetil, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Cortef, Cyclobenzaprine, Darvocet, Diamox, Digoxin, Elidel, Eliquis, Estrogen, Fludrocortisone acetate, Fosamax, Furosemide, Gabapentin, Imodium, Jolessa, Labetalol, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lidocaine, Losartan Potassium, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine, Metoclopramide, Minoxidil, Miralax, Mirapex, Naltrexone, Naproxen Sodium, Nasonex, Nystatin, Ondansetron, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Paxil, Pepcid AC, Plavix, Potassium chloride, Prednisone, Pravastatin Sodium, Prozac, Rozerem, Saphiris, Strattera, Sudafed, Sulfamethoxazole, Testosterone, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Valsartan, Viagra, Xanax, Zinetac, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas over custom PVC strainer
56" x 72"
Redpilled/Bluepilled (Stamford, Connecticut; Rainy Day - After Caillebotte)
2022
Addyi, Albuterol, Aricept, Ativan, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Digoxin, Eliquis, Estrogen, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Jolessa, Lithium, Luvox, Minoxidil, Naproxen Sodium, Oxycontin, Plavix, Prednisone, Saphris, Sudafed, Testosterone, Toprol, Xanax, Valsartan, Viagra, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas over custom PVC strainer
56" x 72"
Spiritual Dread of Space
2022
Addyi, Albuterol, Aricept, Aspirin, Benadryl, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Darvocet, Eliquis, Estrogen, Gabapentin, Jolessa, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Lunesta, Luvox, Mirapex, Naltrexone, Oxycontin, Prozac, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Testosterone, Tramadol, Viagra, Xanax, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas over PVC strainer
72” x 56”
Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (After Monet)
2022
Albuterol, Aricept, Aspirin, Benadryl, Benzonatate, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Cyclobenzaprine, Darvocet, Digoxin, Eliquis, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Gabapentin, Imodium, Jolessa, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine Hydrochloride, Minoxidil, Mirapex, Naproxen Sodium, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Viagra, Valsartan, Xanax, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas stretched over custom PVC strainer
72” x 56”
Tristes Nootropiques (White Heteronormative Million Dollar Family)
2022
Açaí powder, Albuterol, Aricept, Aspirin, Ayahuasca, Benadryl, Benzonatate, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Cyclobenzaprine, Darvocet, Digoxin, Eliquis, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Gabapentin, Imodium, Jolessa, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine Hydrochloride, Minoxidil, Mirapex, Mifepristone and Misoprostol (also known as RU-486), Naproxen Sodium, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Viagra, Valsartan, Xanax, Zoloft, pigment, and acrylic on polyester canvas stretched over custom PVC strainer
36” x 24”
Abstraction and Empathy
2022
Albuterol, Aspirin, Cardizem, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Digoxin, Jolessa, Lamotrigine, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizin Hydrochloride, Miralax, Naltrexone, Oxycontin, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Xanax, Viagra, alcohol, hand sanitizer, acrylic, and pigment on polyester canvas over custom PVC strainer
72” x 56”
Redpilled/Bluepilled (Low Risk of Sexual Side Effects)
2022
Albuterol, Aricept, Ativan, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Digoxin, Eliquis, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Jolessa, Lithium, Luvox, Minoxidil, Naproxen Sodium, Plavix, Prednisone, Saphris, Sudafed, Toprol, Xanax, Valsartan, Viagra, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas over custom PVC strainer
24” x 36”
Copse In The Head (Red)
2022
Albuterol, Aricept, Aspirin, Benadryl, Benzonatate, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Cyclobenzaprine, Darvocet, Digoxin, Eliquis, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Gabapentin, Imodium, Jolessa, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine Hydrochloride, Minoxidil, Mirapex, Naproxen Sodium, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Viagra, Valsartan, Xanax, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas stretched over custom PVC strainer
36" x 24"
Copse In The Head (Red) (detail)
2022
Albuterol, Aricept, Aspirin, Benadryl, Benzonatate, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Cyclobenzaprine, Darvocet, Digoxin, Eliquis, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Gabapentin, Imodium, Jolessa, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine Hydrochloride, Minoxidil, Mirapex, Naproxen Sodium, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Viagra, Valsartan, Xanax, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas stretched over custom PVC strainer
36" x 24"
Copse In The Head (Red) (detail)
2022
Albuterol, Aricept, Aspirin, Benadryl, Benzonatate, Cardizem, Cefuroxinine Axetil, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Cyclobenzaprine, Darvocet, Digoxin, Eliquis, Fludrocortisone Acetate, Gabapentin, Imodium, Jolessa, Lamisil, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine Hydrochloride, Minoxidil, Mirapex, Naproxen Sodium, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Viagra, Valsartan, Xanax, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas stretched over custom PVC strainer
36" x 24"
(L-R) Redpilled/Bluepilled (Stamford, Connecticut; Rainy Day - After Caillebotte), Copse In The Head (Red), Tristes Nootropiques, Woman With Parasol (Abilify), and Tristes Nootropiques (White Heteronormative Million Dollar Family)
2022
Installation view, Pharmaceuticals and acrylic on polyester canvas
Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (study)
2022
Albuterol, Aspirin, Cardizem, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Digoxin, Jolessa, Lamotrigine, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizin Hydrochloride, Miralax, Naltrexone, Oxycontin, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Tramadol, Xanax, Viagra, alcohol, hand sanitizer, acrylic, and pigment on polyester canvas over custom PVC strainer
36” x 24.5”
Copse In The Head (Blue)
2022
Aricept, Aspirin, Benedryl, Cardizem, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Darvocet, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Levotabs, Lunesta, Luvox, Meclizine Hydrochloride, Oxycontin, Pantoprazole, Rozerem, Saphris, Tramadol, Viagra, Xanax, Zoloft, and acrylic on polyester canvas stretched over custom PVC strainer
36" x 24"
Further Observations On The Appearances Of Nature, At Different Times
2021
Aspirin, Cardizem, Cephalex, Ciprofloxacin, Claritin, Jolessa, Lamotrigine, Lunesta, Luvox, Mirapex, Naltrexone, Nasonex, Oxycontin, Rozerem, Saphris, Strattera, Sudafed, Tofranil, Toprol, Xanax, Roundup weed killer, Red Bull, Monster energy drink, bleach, vinegar, alcohol, hand sanitizer, acrylic, and pigment on Kevlar ballistic fabric
17” x 36”