Almost Human @ Bench Gallery
My work with human subjects explores themes of personal isolation. I focus on composition, lighting, and body position to suggest the internal state of mind. Staging a piece typically involves directing my sitters until their gesture and expression coalesce to evoke that interior space. For this series, “Almost Human,” I applied the same sensibility to highlight the unique personality within each of these worn and loved creatures.
“Almost Human” evolved from an ongoing project to downsize the family home where I grew up. This effort necessitated weeks of digging through attic storage and many things I had left behind. As a child, I was obsessed with stuffed animals. I had hundreds, including many inherited from elders, and much of my allowance went toward building that menagerie. So, when I began the attic exploration, I knew that a sizeable chunk of the project would be sorting through countless old toys.
The animals made in the ‘50s and ‘60s tended to hold up well, but some of my arduously collected ‘70s critters had deteriorated beyond repair. As I sorted through them, I found it difficult (and karmically fraught) to just callously throw the damaged ones out, regardless of how bad their condition. Stacking the “bodies” for disposal felt like building a funeral mound. Everyone one of them had an adoption story that was ending in tragedy, as though I had abandoned a hundred fragile souls. In the end, those were given a solemn dumpster-ceremony sendoff, the best I could do under the circumstances.
In addition to keeping some of the most cherished animals and toys from that purging, I’ve also managed to carry far too many along with me into adulthood. The creatures shown here are a mixture of ones I’ve been toting around for decades and those recently saved from oblivion. That revisitation and emotional journey made me see them as more than objects; they are odd, broken beings with their own thoughts and secrets—and sometimes a little attitude.
Show Details:
- Almost Human
- The Bench Gallery, at Fayes Coffee: 3614 18th St., San Francisco, CA
- Dates: August 25 – October 17, 2026
- Reception: Saturday, September 26, 3–5 pm
510 All Stars (2025)
It’s another very busy fall, with a host of group exhibitions including the return of Nielsen Arts’ “510 All Stars” show to Berkeley, CA.
All pieces are 10″ x 10″ on panel, with a fantastic array of over 75 artists’ work on display. My piece “Lion” will be part of the show. Looking forward to the opening reception, which is always a fun and festive time. Plus, there’s gumbo!
Show Details:
- 510 All Stars
- Nielsen Arts Gallery and Custom Framing: 1545 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA
- Opens Saturday, 12/13: 6–9 pm
- On display through January 27, 2026
Phantasmagoria of Birds
My piece “Cedar Waxwing” will be on display as part of the “Phantasmagoria of Birds” show at Faultline Gallery, in its new storefront space in the Laurel District of Oakland. The show runs from Nov. 22, 2025 through January 10, 2026.
Cedar waxwings hold a special place in my heart.
We live on the top floor of an apartment building on a hill, and when we first moved in 15 years ago, the waxwings gathered in a tall tree just outside our kitchen window every winter. I could watch them socializing only a few feet away, all of us sharing an expansive view.
About five years ago, the tree fell ill, and the neighbors had to cut it down. The waxwings still came back, finding perches in a mammoth city tree and a serpentine, three-story cypress. Later, severe storms took the city tree down, but the birds returned to the cypress’ slender limbs. One day, I came home to find that the neighbors had hacked the cypress way down to below their roofline, a stumpy remnant of its former shape. I’m sure they had a valid reason, but to me they’d killed off the last of the waxwing haunts.
Since then, the birds have been fleeting — maybe two sightings around the holidays from a block away, a distant flittering of grayish specks with little pops of red or yellow to catch the eye. They still seem as gregarious as ever, but I wonder if they miss visiting their old, lofty trees like I miss having them nearby.
Show Details:
- Phantasmagoria of Birds
- Faultline Gallery, 3908 Macarthur Blvd, Oakland
(Note this new location!) - Opens November 22nd; 5–9 pm
- Runs through January 10, 2026
OMCA: Fairyland @ 75 – A Legacy of Magic
I’m honored and excited to be part of the Fairyland @ 75: A Legacy of Magic collaborative installation at the Oakland Museum of California. This fun, educational exhibition celebrating the historic Oakland family park opens April 4 and is included with regular museum admission.
Part of the installation is a collection of miniatures by local artists, who were asked to select a Fairyland character/icon as their theme. I, not surprisingly, chose an Alice in Wonderland character, the Queen of Hearts. I had previously had a lot of fun drawing her for one of Fairyland’s past “Drawn Together” fundraising events, and I thought she would be fun to work with in a small sculpture. See below for her photo.
Exhibition Details
- Opens Friday April 4
- Runs April 4 – Dec. 7, 2025
- Oakland Museum of CA: Online ticket sales
- OMCA is located at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, situated between downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt
Women’s 10xTen (2025)
It’s been a few years, but “10xTen” is back at Faultline Artspace, featuring 100 Bay Area women artists.
My painting “July” will be one of 100 (yes 100!) wildly different pieces, all 10″ x 10″ on panel. The show opens on Saturday, March 1. See the Faultline website for information and availability
Show Dates and Details:
- Faultline Artspace
- Opening Reception Party March 1st, 6-10pm
- Online sales open Thursday March 6, at 6pm
- Closing Reception and Art Pick-Up Party April 26th, 6-9pm
510 All Stars 2024
After a year hiatus, Nielsen Arts’ annual group show “510 All Stars” is back, opening on Saturday, December 7th.
My painting “December” is one of over 90 pieces by an array of wonderful Bay Area artists. John Casey and I both have works in this show. All pieces are 10″ x 10″ on panel, in a wide range of styles.
This will be a cash-and-carry event, so if a piece piques your interest, your best bet is to get there early and snatch it up!
The gallery shop is open daily Monday–Saturday from 10–6, as well.
Show Dates and Details:
- Nielsen Arts
- Exhibiton Dates: December 7, 2024–January 28, 2025
- Opening Reception: Saturday, December 7, 7–10 pm
Beer and gumbo will be served!!
