Almost half of the American population suffers from at least one chronic illness, and that statistic is constantly rising. Those with pre-existing conditions or incurable diseases live in constant fear that their health will be held hostage by a corrupt health care system. In the fight to cope with this hardship, patients have more adversaries than allies, and it often becomes a choice between life-saving treatment or crippling debt.

My new series of work is designed to convey the overwhelming physical, emotional and financial burdens of acute illness. These daily struggles consume every aspect of life, contributing to a culture of fear, stress and isolation that ultimately leads to a lack of hope and loss of identity.

This multi-media series reflects an aesthetically cold and sterile environment. The work features large-scale installations, as well as sculptural work utilizing medical supplies to create a visceral, abstract narrative. As public health becomes less of a fundamental human right and more of a commodity, this series is a call to action to end the ruthless exploitation of our most vulnerable population.