2019 - present

What I Saw in the Water highlights the destructive history of the Gulf Coast, reflecting the detriment born from the environmental catastrophes that linger across the landscape. The aftermaths of Hurricane Katrina and Ida, the ecological disaster caused by the BP Oil Spill, and the slow environmental poisoning caused by petrochemical companies are a few examples of the sorrowful history plaguing the Gulf Coast. Growing up amid these issues, What I Saw in the Water offers a personal reflection on grief, loss, and the repetitive cycles that define this region. 

By combining photography with image transfer and acrylic gels, I treat the surface like wet paint—smearing, distorting, or even erasing the original image to disrupt and re-imagine its initial vision. While the motivation for the series is rooted in my experiences and fears of losing my homeland, universal themes resonate throughout: environmental destruction, reflections on the landscape and its influence on identity, cultural history, and the importance of remembering. Grief is a necessary component when considering the Gulf Coast, as the suffering of the past and present is deeply ingrained in the culture. Though catastrophic events may come and go, the damage remains, etched into the land and sea, waiting to resurface.