My work draws inspiration from the fundamental concept of building blocks. By definition, building blocks are separate units that combine to make something that is greater than the sum of their parts. In doing so, I tap into a universal principle that is both simple and profound while applying to everything from child’s play to complex systems.

Children often turn to block play because it offers an open-ended learning experience in which they are free to combine and re-combine things in countless ways. In doing so, they develop a variety of skills including spatial awareness, motor skills, language, social and emotional growth, and creativity. My modular blocks, ranging from small to medium and large, match one another in terms of dimensions and proportion. By combining clay and wood, I introduce an interplay of materials with different properties and cultural associations that create unexpected combinations of familiar materials.

I approach art making as a playful process that requires patient observation and an iterative approach throughout the creative practice. By working with these building blocks, I’ve created a flexible framework that allows for endless exploration and discovery, both for me as the artist as well as for the viewer.