This body of work is inspired by my journey of living with chronic and invisible illness. It is an exploration of the peculiar relationship between play and survival through crocheted, felted, and quilted soft sculptures. For me, coping manifests as silliness in the face of seriousness. After a year of new realities, diagnoses, and treatments, these pieces provide a space to process the painful, absurd, and conflicting moments with curiosity, humor, and optimism.

Physically and emotionally providing a softer entrance into uncomfortable or unfamiliar worlds, I invite viewers to engage in ambiguity and find comfort in the similarities of our human experiences. Utilizing bright colors, nostalgic patterns, intriguing textures, and found materials from childhood memories and current medical needs, I balance the heaviness of my subject matter with levity and joy, finding new perspectives with each material and process. Sharing parts of my journey, I hope to cultivate comfort, understanding for, and connection between all of us living in the peculiar overlap of wonderful and terrible and acknowledging the sting of hidden hurts.