About Me

Through painting, I explore observations of the everyday, often focused on figures in action, oblivious to observation, and scenes that would otherwise go unnoticed. At times, my work can explore places that figures inhabit, things they use, and close-ups of daily life. My work looks at my cultural identities as a second-generation Maltese/Italian Canadian and the qualities that are at once unique to these cultures but relatable across many others. This can include explorations into family photo albums, photos from my travels, and familial observations. My work also explores themes of childhood, nostalgia, matriarchy, and relationships, both of my own and of others’ that feel familiar based on our shared human experiences. 

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My Maltese identity has encouraged this idea, as the geography of the country has created conditions for strong cross-cultural traits. Being raised in such a culture and in a diverse community in Canada, I’ve seen that the human experience does not differ as much as we think it does across cultures and identities. This has been a useful tool for me to examine cultural similarities in my life and to present the world as I know it in hopes that people will look at it and see glimpses of their own lives, families, and identities.

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​My process begins with photo references, both that I’ve taken or have found. I then create a small study of the photos and change, combine, or even remove some elements to create a composition that is slightly less realistic than the original reference. On an acrylic paint washed canvas, I transfer my sketch and begin painting my scene with oil, working each section individually while mindfully coordinating all parts to ensure they work together, combining areas of flat colour with looser brushwork. At times, this brushwork allows for the figures to be made anonymous, as to offer viewers the opportunity to place their own memories within the scene. 

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