Religion has always been of interest to me. Since I grew up agnostic, I’m able to look at the religions around me from a more objective lens. When I study religions, I notice a range of methods of worship, stages of belief, as well as levels of dedication. Most interesting to me, is the level of religiosity that borders on blind faith. Faith asks the believer to believe and follow without hesitation, without proof. Such faith can allow religious leaders to manipulate its followers for their own personal gain. In my sustained investigation, I explore how religious symbols have been corrupted throughout history as a means of influencing its followers.

One of the symbols I reference is the Venus of Willendorf, a European fertility statue from Neolithic times. In my works, I combine acrylic painting with printmaking to create a printing matrix that I can print multiple times onto the canvas. Using the plates as stamps allows me to create subsequent imagery, continuous through separate pieces. The bold, striking quality of the printline draws more attention to the figure and demonstrates the weight of the symbol’s impact through its literal, visual weight on the canvas.