If something is grotesque, can it not also be beautiful? For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the macabre. As a child, I loved Tim Burton films, reading Goosebumps books, and swapping scary stories with my friends. As older brothers do, my bothers introduced me to scary movies at an age that was below the rating recommendation. As much as they terrified me, I was also hooked. There is something so mesmerizing about the artistry of a good horror movie that goes beyond the adrenaline rush. So imagine my glee as I stumbled upon artists’ works that pushed the boundary of “easy on the eyes.” As I scrolled through paintings, sculptures, and installations that would make the average person squirm, I felt empowered. I was not alone! However, I also found myself at a crossroads: I had been previously exploring my texture series, and now I was drawn towards a new motif. Rather than choose, I am embracing both! With a non-objective abstract approach in my series Flesh & Color, I am producing paintings that explore my query: “If something is grotesque, can it not also be beautiful?”