Art is Activism

My work addresses violations of reproductive rights, gender violence, and sexism as a result of conservative Evangelical ideologies that have seeped into American politics and culture. Having been raised in a neoliberal capitalist Evangelical mega-church, I use the lens of “purity culture” (the obsession and value of “virginity”) to explore facets of popular culture that have influenced these ideals. Prominent themes in my work are beauty queens and the subsequent symbols and materials that are attached to that pageantry: for example, sashes, crowns and ribbons. I’m interested in mobilizing the learned experiences of abstinence and shaming to teach young people about their sexuality and sexual choices.