“ToyBox” 2018

oil on aluminum backed panel
120”x 180” (305cm x 457cm)

In the summer of 2018, I rented an empty gallery space in the heart of New York’s famous SOHO neighborhood. Every day for an entire month, I woke up at sunrise and took the subway to the space, where I would paint from early morning until late night. The door of the glass storefront remained open and throughout the day curious passersby would trickle in to chat with me and watch me paint. I worked on many pieces during that month, the most crucial of which was an enormous triptych that completely dominated the otherwise bare-walled space. Depicting ten larger-than-life teddy bears, each one its own unique glowing color, “ToyBox” was created from start to finish within the span of a month, with the streets of SOHO bearing witness to the entire process.

The initial discomfort of a new city and a new space, the gargantuan amount of paint that passed through my hands to the canvases, the pressure of working in front of a daily audience… these experiences were essential to the creation of this piece, and the final result made all of them absolutely worth it.

The unique origin story of “ToyBox” gave the piece a special place in my heart. I truly see it as a beautiful visual testament to what you can accomplish when you pursue your ideas and follow your passion…. and I hope that it brings a wealth of joyful inspiration to every one of its viewers! :)