Layers of Dialogue examines gestural portraiture through interviews with individuals from my community. By painting portraits of people I know, I translate dialogue and focus on each authentic experience, capturing intimate conversations. Focusing on these experiences in a time of social tensions emphasizes community support by understanding and amplifying others in my community. These portraits are deliberately unposed, highlighting the genuine and vulnerable exchanges I had with each individual. Through listening in the comfort of their own space, our discussions became honest and meaningful. 

As I paint to reveal each individual, I am not only focused on the subject itself but also on my own experience as a painter throughout this process. These paintings serve as a journal, translating each subject's energy and spirit. Listening back to each conversation allowed me to translate each individual's personality, body language, expressions, and discussions into the painting. Through intuitive observation and consideration for each individual, each mark highlights my interpretation of their challenges. As I created these portraits, I redefine portraiture by focusing on vulnerability and the rawness of self-doubt. Each painting reveals a story, some addressing the struggle of navigating identity within American social expectations, while others introduce the complexities of citizenship. As society continues to keep us divided, embracing conversations allows people to connect on a human level and address moments in people’s lives that deserve to be heard.