The City that Never Sleeps, 2025, marker and gouache and collage, 11”x14”

I was inspired by pop art and artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. I love how their work feels alive — full of color, energy, and pieces of everyday city life. Their art doesn’t try to be perfect; it’s messy and bold, and that really connects with me.

I chose this influence because I’ve always been drawn to the feeling of big cities, especially New York, because it is where I am from. It’s loud, creative, and full of personality. I used newspaper in my background to show how the city is always moving and full of fun sports stories, then added bright colors and symbols like the taxi, skyline, and a Yankees hat to capture its vibe. This influence helped me be more open and expressive in my art — to not worry about being too neat, but to focus on showing feeling and movement.

My artwork is about the energy of New York City — how it never sleeps, and how everything feels alive. I used layers of newspaper, markers, and gouache to create that sense of motion and chaos. The colors and drawings represent both the beauty and the craziness of the city. I wanted it to feel fun, bold, and a little overwhelming — the same way it feels to walk through New York.

Skiing the Scoop, 2025, color pencil, gouache, collage, 39”x12”

 My artwork mixes the feeling of summer and winter by turning a soft serve ice cream cone into a snowy mountain filled with tiny skiers and a chair lift. I used Mod Podge to layer the newspaper pieces so they would create an interesting, textured base that feels busy and full of movement. Then I painted the sky and base of the ice cream with gouache and used colored pencils to draw the small skiers, ice cream/mountain, and cone so they would stand out clearly. By combining warm, summer imagery with a cold winter activity, I aim to show viewers how a delicious piece of food can become something completely different depending on how you see it. The mix of both seasons and materials helps create a fun, unexpected world where summer and winter meet.