While it may resemble an x-ray or rayograph, this mixed media work is made by rubbing encaustic wax on drafting film to capture the seams and details of second-hand clothing. In my work as a textile artist, I often encounter hand-sewn repairs, threadbare fabric, and collars inscribed with names. These traces evoke an uncanny sense of intimacy, making the garments feel alive. Second-hand clothing doesn’t represent people. It remembers them.
Learn more about my process in the blog.
Size: 42″ × 36″ (H × W)
Materials: Black encaustic wax and acrylic on drafting film
Framing: The piece will be saddle-stitched to museum board for presentation
Much of my studio time is spent sewing, sorting, and folding vast quantities of second-hand clothing. This empathetic, tender, and quietly radical process serves as a queer reclamation of tasks historically coded as feminine, challenging prevailing notions of masculinity.
As I’ve developed this body of work, clothing itself has become increasingly disposable, creating an ecological crisis of its own. Through my practice, I seek to raise awareness of textile waste and invite a more mindful engagement with the often-unconscious daily ritual of getting dressed.
See what I’m up to on Instagram.
