2024 – Naturalization
2024 – Naturalization
I’ve worn many jerseys: Brazilian, Canadian, Hawaiian, American. Each one slipped on, then off. Identity, for me, has always been fluid — citizenship like clothing I wear but that never truly defines the wearer.
In the year I became an American citizen, I created sculptural paintings infused with organic materials gathered from the many places I’ve roamed. Guided by the teachings of Ram Dass, Joseph Campbell, and Alan Watts, painting became my compass for meditation and divine connection.
This body of work reflects a spiritual and cultural journey shaped by naturalization. Mandalas, moons, ethereal landscapes, butterflies, gold, prayer beads, chakras, and Kintsugi weave through the layers — symbols of transformation, healing, and the luminous cracks where light enters.
Identity is not fixed.
It is a continual becoming.
I’ve worn many jerseys: Brazilian, Canadian, Hawaiian, American. Each one slipped on, then off. Identity, for me, has always been fluid — citizenship like clothing I wear but that never truly defines the wearer.
In the year I became an American citizen, I created sculptural paintings infused with organic materials gathered from the many places I’ve roamed. Guided by the teachings of Ram Dass, Joseph Campbell, and Alan Watts, painting became my compass for meditation and divine connection.
This body of work reflects a spiritual and cultural journey shaped by naturalization. Mandalas, moons, ethereal landscapes, butterflies, gold, prayer beads, chakras, and Kintsugi weave through the layers — symbols of transformation, healing, and the luminous cracks where light enters.
Identity is not fixed.
It is a continual becoming.