I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where an appreciation for the organic beauty of natural things is part of daily life. Coffee is rooted in that same sense of place. I'm drawn to everything that contributes to a single cup of coffee: rich earth that nurtures growth, warm sun, sustaining rains, and the hard-working, weathered hands that pick, roast, package, ship, distribute, grind, and finally, brew. Coffee that arrives in my studio has its own history, so each painting carries a unique narrative. That provenance connects my work to the people and places that make it feel alive.

 

Coffee has a long and varied history. At one point, drinking it was actually banned in some countries and cultures. For generations, coffee's profits largely benefited landowners and businesses, while the laborers and Indigenous communities who grew it received little of its value. But things are changing, and today more coffee is being sourced in ways that honor and better support the people who grow it. Coffee has truly become a way to connect with one another, wherever we may be in the world.

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