I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as one of nine recipients of the 2025 Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities!
This award feels deeply meaningful to me because my journey as an artist has always been intertwined with my experience of living with Crohn’s disease. I was diagnosed in my early 20’s, and learning to manage a chronic illness has shaped much of my adult life. There have been times when my health has slowed me down, but making art has always been a way to steady myself—to process stress, to focus on beauty, and to find joy in the small, deliberate steps of creation.
Fabric collage in particular has become a form of therapy for me. The slow layering of fabric, the rhythm of topstitching, and the transformation of fragile scraps into something whole mirrors my own need for resilience and renewal. This practice helps me stay grounded and reminds me that even in difficulty, there is space for growth and connection.
The support from this award will help me continue to afford materials and keep pushing myself creatively. I’m also so grateful to be part of a cohort of nine artists whose work and stories are inspiring in their own ways.
I’d love for you to take a look at their incredible art too—you can see the full group of recipients here: