Since We've Met is a series of faux-naive figurative paintings that seeks to capture universal moments within romantic relationships. I am interested in using genre painting to explore the interpersonal aspects of romantic relationships that might resonate for different people. Avoiding visual suggestions of specific identities, the series presents a space where viewers can connect the moments represented in the paintings to their own experiences.

The paintings present figures in familiar scenarios that aim to speak to personal memories for viewers. By deliberately distorting proportions in both the figures and their environments, I create a visual language aiming to capture the quintessence of romantic relationships. Stripped of any obvious narrative or judgment, the paintings omit elements that might assert any one perspective or opinion on romantic relationships and instead hinge on an ambiguity that generates space for varying interpretations. Through this approach, viewers are invited to connect with the work through their own experiences and memories of moments that might recall the people we love or have loved, and the shared experiences we have had with those people. All relationships are of course distinct, but by seeking out the common rather than the specific Since We've Met offers a reflection on our shared humanity. By considering the quiet moments that shape and define relationships, these paintings look to these experiences as a point of connection.