#42 Fragile Thresholds, Fine Art Series in Abstraction

Being an artist is a huge source of therapy during times of upheaval and change.

That said, I have several images of a new series I created during the intersection of personal grief and the chaos of our country’s shifting landscape.

This series is called “Fragile Thresholds.”

I began this series during a deeply personal time, just before my stepfather’s passing. At first, the paintings were meant to capture the beauty of everyday moments and family life. But as he entered hospice care and my mother became his devoted caregiver, the focus shifted. The series evolved into a reflection of our shared experience—love, resilience, and the weight of impending loss.

Now that he is gone, these paintings have a different meaning. They serve as a tribute to the love he brought into my mother’s life and a vessel for the grief that lingers in his absence. Each brushstroke expresses my concern for her, the sorrow of his passing, and the complex emotions woven into family relationships.

Beyond personal loss, this series also speaks to broader change and uncertainty, particularly in the country's shifting landscape. Just as my family’s stability was upended, the nation’s economic footing has become unsteady. What was once a strong and promising financial outlook has quickly eroded, leaving many facing job losses, financial strain, and an uncertain future. Inflation remains high, consumer confidence is shaken, and the looming threat of recession feels impossible to ignore.

My work centers on the intersection of personal and national upheaval. The paintings capture the weight of mourning and the fragility of stability in our private lives and the world around us.