My creative research delves into the interplay of compulsive hoarding, accumulation, and mental illness. In my MFA thesis, "The Need to Keep," I draw from personal experiences and the narratives of others to create miniature scenes that serve as windows into an often misunderstood world.

Rather than aiming for exact replicas, my sculptures are three-dimensional collages of various concepts that reflect the challenges of living with mental illness. The overwhelming accumulation of possessions depicted in my work represents the unsafe living conditions and impaired daily functioning often experienced by individuals with compulsive hoarding disorder. Beyond physical clutter, I examine the emotional impact of hoarding, exploring how objects can hold memories, provide comfort, and shape our identities. Through thing theory, a subset of critical theory that explores human-object interactions, I contemplate how objects influence our behaviors and relationships.

The medium of miniatures offers me a unique outlet to process and convey the complex emotions tied to hoarding. I challenge the traditional dollhouse by depicting gritty and chaotic scenes. Rather than seeking perfection, I capture the messy reality of life. Instead of using figures in my work, I suggest human presence and a lived-in space by carefully placing items with traces of wear. Every item, from a half-empty coffee cup to a discarded magazine, is a silent cue to the past. 

My work serves as a sculptural lens that magnifies the significance of specific objects.  The viewer becomes an investigator as they search for contextual clues and meanings within each scene. Ultimately, my work prompts reflection on the personal connections we form with our possessions and the reasons why we feel the need to keep them. 

This MFA exhibition runs from April 5th to April 13th 2024 at the Radford University Tyler Gallery in Radford, VA.