stencil, waterborne & urethane automotive paint, genuine copper, silver and 24k gold leaf, metal flake, enamel, on oak-cradled aluminum
40” x 40” x 2”
2023

The title of this painting, "if you choose to fail us we will never forgive you" is a quote spoken by @gretathunberg to the United Nations. Inside the nimbus behind her is a symbol rendered in genuine silver leaf known as the Viking Compass which is thought of not as a geographical compass but rather a compass of virtue. Foiliage depicted, in iridescent green and black, is mistletoe which is one of the only two plants that is a true parasite, meaning it needs to be attached to another plant to live. My model (the wonderful @freya) was chosen both for her Scandinavian descent and for being a member of the generation who our ecological fallout will impact the most.

This is work is part of a series of paintings containing halos that I'm calling atheist icons. Each painting contains text challenging traditions that I believe caused the struggles that face us ahead. The icon, of course, being loaded with symbolic language that's been utilized by all the old masters throughout art history. This contains mirror-like 24-karat gold leaf, which is a process that i invented. "if you choose" is built on layers and layers of stenciled and sprayed candy waterborne and urethane automotive paints.