My sculpture challenges the prevailing anthropocentric ideology that upholds human dominion over animals. The idea of dominion over animals is ordained as our right and mythologized in our culture, religion, science, and imagination. The word “myth” refers to a fictional, often magical story that creates cultural meaning and reaffirms commonly held beliefs within a society. The most prevalent overarching myth about animals, is that they are here for us. The rhetoric supporting this myth suffuses nearly every aspect of culture and has been communicated across a range of media throughout history. While the structure and presentation of this myth varies between animals, the overarching idea remains the same. I work to dismantle this myth in all of its iterations for all animals. 

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My work uses the anti-myth to set up a new narrative trajectory creating space for animal sentience to be recognized by confounding the old narratives. My anti-myths, are fictions, magical stories that negate, thwart, confound, and deconstruct prevailing beliefs about animals. I use a variety of materials including: ceramic, cast bronze, formed and forged copper, found objects, and numerous experimental materials to create sculptures that range from tiny individual objects, to immense installations. I echo the complexity of the prevailing myth, often incorporating elements from history, philosophy, and science to create a nuanced fiction that is almost believable. The believability of my anti-myths allows the viewer to question societal assumptions about our treatment of animals. Animal rights is a topic that our society is generally not interested in discussing. The strangeness, beauty, and mystery of my work enchants the viewer, enticing them to consider our treatment of animals. 

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In confounding the prevailing myths surrounding animals, I allow space for the viewer to consider animals in their own right, and ultimately recognize the animals’ agency and perspectives.