Mixed Media
Smells Like Paper, created around 2000, is a mixed media work combining acrylic paint, stickers, sketching, and layered elements that reflect both experimentation and conceptual depth. At its center, the piece offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the Statue of Liberty, recast not as a neoclassical monument but as a young woman situated within the fabric of modern urban life. Dressed in casual attire, she is envisioned as a minority figure—her race and culture intentionally left undefined—serving as a universal emblem of inclusivity and belonging.
This reimagined Liberty prompts viewers to consider how national symbols might be transformed when seen through the lens of present-day diversity and lived experience. Rather than towering above the city, she becomes part of it, grounded in the everyday reality of America’s streets. By merging abstract gestures with representational imagery, Smells Like Paper invites reflection on freedom, identity, and the evolving nature of cultural icons in contemporary society.