At the start of my professional art career, and following the passing of my grandmother on my father’s side in 2003, I began incorporating scripture into my work. After her passing, my father gave me a Bible that had been presented to him by his employer, Ford Motor Company, at the time of her death. Raised Catholic, I had always been surrounded by the Bible—attending church, participating in CCD classes, and absorbing the stories and teachings—but it wasn’t until I received this Bible that I began to truly read the verses and feel their emotional resonance.
This personal connection inspired me to integrate scripture into my abstract paintings. While scripture had long appeared in folk art, it just wasn't seen in contemporary abstract work. Most viewers responded with interest and appreciation—perhaps because it offered something new within modern abstract expression—but for me, creating these works was never about novelty. Some responded with disdain, angry that I was sharing biblical verse, simply because they didn't believe in it. For me the addition of scripture came from a deep engagement with both the visual and the verbal, and a desire to explore how words and symbols can carry meaning beyond their immediate context.
I am drawn to the idea that art can speak to people regardless of their background, offering moments of reflection or resonance. By weaving scripture into abstract forms, I aim less to preach than to explore how these words, combined with color, texture, and form, can evoke emotion, inspire contemplation, and invite viewers to connect in their own personal way.
