My love for photography and a good visual narrative began over a decade ago when I took my first photography class in high school. My mom bought me my first professional camera, a Canon Rebel T4i (which I still use for my digital photography – what can I say, I’m sentimental). Back then, I loved taking photographs any chance that I got – from family outings, to special occasions, and especially cringey 2010s-tumblr-era self-portraits. I was even on the high school yearbook team.

When it came time to apply to college, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I just knew that I desperately wanted to leave my small hometown in northern Connecticut. I really looked up to my high school art teacher (shout out to Ms. Fischetti), so I figuredsure, why not be an art teacher.Upon applying for college, the school I went to didn’t offer Art Education, but they did offer Photography. That sealed the deal for me, and off to Fort Lauderdale, FL, I went.

My first attempt at art school was short-lived, however, as I discovered nearly two years in that the school wasn’t accredited… so, I dropped out. After “wasting two years of my life,” I moved to Athens and took a bunch of time off; four years, to be exact. Then, the pandemic hit. I had lost my retail job due to store closure, and I knew that was my sign to finally do something with my life. It was back to school for me.

Enrolling at the University of Georgia for photography (though, technically my degree is in Interdisciplinary Art & Design for the sake of time, but my focus is in photography) has been truly one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made. Through the program, I’ve discovered my love for alternative processes in photography, and gone are the days of my cringey 2010s-tumblr-era self-portraits – which now have turned into a portfolio of abstract works of fine art that center on themes of identity and corporeality.