Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline

Born from a deep appreciation for the bravery of Los Angeles firefighters, Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline is a digital portrait series dedicated to those who put their lives on the line to battle wildfires. This project is a visual tribute, ensuring these often-unsung heroes are recognized and seen.

Each portrait captures a moment of quiet strength, honoring the endurance, sacrifice, and humanity of the individuals behind the uniforms. The series will culminate in a published book, with proceeds supporting a firefighter fund to give back to those who protect our communities.

By blending fine art and storytelling, Guardian Portraits focuses on illuminating the people behind the fire lines, preserving their courage and legacy beyond the smoke and ashes.

Warriors Project: Faces From the Frontline

Created during the pandemic, The Warriors Project is a series of portraits honoring the resilience and sacrifice of frontline workers. These pieces distill the essence of expression and gesture into their purest form, with faces constructed through a polygonal, diamond-like surface. By breaking down idiosyncratic features into geometric planes, the artwork captures the individuality and collective strength of those who stood on the front lines.

Many sitters wear masks or face coverings, a stark reminder of the time and the necessity of protection. With the lower half of the face obscured, the eyes become the most expressive element—conveying exhaustion, determination, and an unspoken connection to the viewer.

Each portrait serves as a tribute and a reflection of the moment, ensuring the faces of these everyday heroes are never forgotten.

To further document and preserve this work, I am developing a book that will feature these portraits alongside stories of resilience, loss, and courage during an unprecedented time in history.

If you want to support or exhibit The Warriors Project, please reach out.

No Justice No Peace (NJNP) Project

During the pandemic, I began the No Justice No Peace (NJNP) Project—a series of digital portraits honoring individuals killed by the police, including Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor, Eric Reason, George Floyd, Michael Lorenzo Dean, Sandra Bland, and Trayvon Martin. What started as an act of remembrance quickly became overwhelming. The sheer number of names, the weight of loss, and the inescapable sadness of it all made it impossible to continue. I had to stop.

I am a white artist stepping into a space where grief, injustice, and systemic racism intersect—aware that my perspective comes with inherent limitations. Inspired by the ideas in How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, I approached this project not as a passive observer but as someone seeking to confront the truth, amplify these lives, and invite others to do the same.

These portraits are not just images but echoes of people who should still be here. Their faces—fractured into the polygonal surfaces that define my artistic style—represent the individuality of each life and the collective weight of this crisis. Their presence demands acknowledgment, and their absence is a wound that cannot be ignored.

I am actively seeking grant opportunities to complete this project and secure a space for an exhibition. I hope that by giving these portraits a home—one where people can stand before them, absorb their presence, and feel the same overwhelming sorrow that halted my work—we can create a moment of reckoning, remembrance, and responsibility. These lives cannot be forgotten.

If you want to support or exhibit No Justice No Peace, please reach out.