Artist Statement
For this project, I have drawn inspiration from the unique COVID-19 period in history that we have all collectively experienced from March 2020 until recently. Everyone I knew had to physically distance ourselves from one another as if we were contaminated. This invisible enemy created a huge amount of anxiety that artists have portrayed through different forms of media such as paintings, songs, collages, or in my case, photographs.
Using photo editing tools on my images, I explore this tension by altering the color of objects I used to see outside my windows when we were asked to stay home and not venture outside, hoping to produce whimsical yet beautiful pieces that can stand alone or be together in a collection. These images are an interpretation of the radioactive atmosphere I sensed when I ventured outside during lockdown.
Artist Biography
My parents are from Norway, but I was born and grew up in Brazil. I moved here to SF when I was 19 years old. I then started attending the Academy of Art College (the school’s name at that time) with interests in both Advertising and Photography. After 2 years of studies, I had to decide which major I wanted to pursue and decided on adverting, mostly because, in advertising, you would hire photographers, and not usually the other way around. During my last year in college, I was already regretting my decision. Still, I decided to stick with my plan and finish my degree… long story short, I never worked in an Ad agency like my degree prepared me for, I never even applied for an Ad agency job, and I always regretted not having chosen the more fine art photography path.
In 93’ I graduated from the Academy of Art University with a BFA in Advertising Design. Since then, I have opened 2 restaurants in San Francisco, produced all the marketing materials, sold the restaurants, gotten married, and we now have a family that includes 2 lovely daughters who are now 11 and 14 years old…and a beloved Doodle named Chewy.
I am thrilled to be back at the Academy of Art University, taking photography classes and working towards completing my Master’s Degree in Fine Art Photography. I feel like this is where I should have been all along. This is where I belong! Perhaps a bit conflicted about what could have been - had I chosen a career path in photography in the mid ’90s—mostly feeling like “what if?”. Almost as a bit of melancholy at times for photographs I never created…but upbeat and looking forward to these days as that is all one can do, right?
Here I am, finally back where I belong. And super excited with all the progress in projects and personal growth inspired by these last few years at the Academy. I look forward to sharing my images with the world.
