What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?
First, I worked for former Bowdoin professor John Bisbee, the nail sculptor whose work is still in the main entryway of Druck (I think). He gave all his employees studio space in Fort Andross. That’s when I started painting in earnest. I lived in Portland from when I graduated in 2015 until 2018. While working for Bisbee, I was always surrounded by artists. Artists who worked in Fort Andross would often stop by and come to lunch. My coworkers and roommates were artists and musicians, and my friends in Portland ran a gallery out of an old laundromat building. This work experience was the most significant influence on my decision to become an artist: seeing that it was possible, that many people did it, were able to sustain it, enjoyed it, and were not starving or regretting it. While living in Portland, I curated a show and took part in a few two-person and group shows. I moved to Brooklyn and went to grad school, earning my MFA from Hunter in 2021, and I’ve been living and working here since then. I’ve had some shows at Moss Galleries in Portland (working with my old Bowdoin Frisbee teammate Cody Stack ’16), and I’ve also been in some shows here in New York. It’s a great place to be an artist.
Why visual arts? What drew you to the major/minor and how has it shaped your path?
I had a hard time picking a major. I was also interested in philosophy and English. Ultimately, it was actually my parents who said something like, "Well, you’ve always really liked art, why not major in that?" Simple enough. I had always loved art. I was always drawing, taking photos, and I loved ceramics. I was worried about job options, but my parents pointed out that philosophy and English don’t exactly set you up either. I thought I could get a fulfilling job doing graphic design. I had always secretly wanted to design skateboards, snowboards, and album covers. It turns out it’s very hard to make a living from just that. I did an internship doing graphic design for the Hyde School (over in Bath), and I saw what it would realistically be like to have a steady graphic design job. It would pay the bills, but it wasn’t my idea of "fulfilling." I found much more fulfillment working for Bisbee and doing my own art.
Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?
I have already mentioned my transformative work experience with John Bisbee. Painting II with Mark Wethli was also important. His immediate observations and suggestions for painters were inspiring to me. I thought, "If only I could achieve that kind of mastery, to be able to give artistic advice that quickly." An Intro to Poetry class with Peter Coviello was memorable. Arguing about the meaning of poems was the best. An intellectual history of medieval Europe with Professor of History Dallas Dennery was also great.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in your field?
Devoting your life to art certainly raises the stakes, but in the end, that only makes it more meaningful and important. One practical piece of advice is not to go to art graduate school right after undergrad. Take at least two years, preferably more. Know what you want to get out of art school before you go. There is no need to rush it. Also, being an artist and making a living from it takes a very long time, so be patient. For all Bowdoin students, try not to be so anxious about things. Get a therapist if you are experiencing anxiety. Try to enjoy your friends, enjoy nature, enjoy the pines, go to the ocean, enjoy the dining halls, and bike around and explore.
