About Me

As an artist and scholar, I work at the intersection of history, memory, and craft. I specialize in the delicate and expressive art of Victorian hairwork, with a particular focus on wirework hair flowers, a near-forgotten tradition rich in symbolism, craftsmanship, and intimate meaning.

My journey with hairwork began during my undergraduate studies at Washington State University, where I focused my research on Victorian-era hairwork as both a cultural artifact and a form of sentimental expression. Through the lens of material culture and a feminist perspective informed by practice, my research examines its social, emotional, and economic dimensions by centering the lives of the makers themselves. My technical knowledge comes directly from the close study of surviving 19th-century hair wreaths and American primary sources. Through reverse engineering and much experimentation, I taught myself the intricate art form of wirework to not only understand its history, but to revive it as a living art.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2022 with a degree in Humanities, with concentrations in History, Art History, and English (Writing). During my studies, I was honored to receive multiple grants and scholarships recognizing both my academic achievements and artistic talents.

With over 20 years of experience as a visual artist, I have also worked as a gallery manager, art event coordinator, curator, and exhibition juror. My artwork has been exhibited in galleries and featured in publications worldwide; it has been used as album art and in television set design, and can be found in collections across the globe. I was honored to be named Detroit’s Best Local Artist in 2014 and to receive the Edda McCordic Talent Award for Art in 2019.