1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I was born and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. I have lived in Helsinki, Mexico, and London.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

I recall two parallel connections to the art world as a child. The first is visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario during March school break. I knew nothing about the art or any of the artists I saw but I was captivated by it all.

The second is an introduction to animation, particularly Disney motion pictures during its renaissance period. It was the first time I felt I was good at expressing myself visually. I would draw all the characters from these films and even create my own animated films concepts and characters. It’s a very highly imaginative artform where all things are possible because you are never constrained with the laws of reality. I enjoyed creating visual worlds.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?

Though I have always practiced creative work in my personal time, I was not always part of the industry. I was working at a government job for many years after leaving secondary school. I became unfulfilled work-wise and decided that I needed to pursue a creative career so I left my job and went back to do a four-year undergrad program in interior design in my mid-20s and didn’t actually enter the design industry until my early 30s.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

I always knew that I expressed my interpretations of the world best through the arts and I was actively exploring different mediums to express my ideas. I was outgrowing the idea of creating 2-dimensional work and started focusing on conceptual sculpture as well as my growing interest in furniture and architecture. Design was the best way for me to merge the two worlds.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

I create in a very organic way.  Each project has its own rhythm, its own pulse and heartbeat. I gain so much inspiration when I travel which often allows the design to be informed by where I am at a moment in time. I don’t subscribe to being influenced by only one thing, such as nature. Sometimes I am inspired by nature, sometimes by architecture, another time it’s simply an emotion. It’s through living and interpreting where I am physically and emotionally in a moment that informs the shapes, materials and narrative of each piece are conceived.

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

I don’t have a typical work day. Every day is different depending on the projects I have to complete and what stage I am in the process. Only thing consistent is that I wake up and end the day with emails.

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

The materials often have to do with the narrative of the design, whether this be stone, wood, metal, or any other material. It’s sometimes nice to select materials based solely on their aesthetic beauty, but storytelling is a very important part of my work and the materials selected need to reflect this.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

Precision is important throughout the work. The forms are often simple and direct with meticulous attention to details and nuances that are difficult to execute. This is the aesthetic appeal of the final creation.

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

Find your own unique voice in your work and stay true to your vision. Start creating and putting your work out there. The body of work you are trying to create will evolve and become stronger over time but you need to start if you want to make this happen. Oh, and don’t take yourself too seriously – have fun!

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

The movement in art and design where the representation of underrepresented voices and ideals are disrupting the industry standards and demanding participation.

11. What designers and artists have influenced you ?

Many designers have influenced me at different periods of my career. One of the first designers to influence me was Jaime Hayon – he was a huge influence on why I pursued design.

Often, designers from other disciplines, like fashion, have been a huge influence on my design work. I admire Phoebe Philo’s work with Celine and now her own collection which has such a powerful and elegant approach to representing women. Rick Owens is also another designer inspiration.

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

Faye Toogood, Luam Melake, Najla El Zein, Linde Freya Tangelder, Kim Mupangilai, Dozie Kanu, Pieter Maes.

13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

I am currently very inspired by the works of artists Toyin Ojih Odutola, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Danielle Mckinney, Simone Leigh, and Amoako Boafo.

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

An exploration of culture expressed through material and form.

15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

Thank you for the support! xo

Proust Questionnaire with very short answers (one or a few words) :
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde, Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)