"Cut At All Angles" features a portrayal of Asian masculinity that combats the emasculation I experienced growing up in the American South where I was one of the few Asians in my community. The work references Joel Kim Booster's muscular physique but also touches on growing up in the burbs and refusing to fit into anyone's box.

Growing up in the American South among few who looked like me, I’ve suffered from an identity crisis that brought me shame as an outsider. My work highlights that these unique experiences of vulnerability were valid and are valuable.

Negotiating images of Americana and various Asian culture, I paint narrative scenes that sift through history and cultural expectations to reveal complex layers of identity. My paintings examine my evolving attitudes on masculinity, femininity, injustice and identity. The portraits explore color, light and space to create scenes that are more daydream than reality. The works feature people close to me and public figures I admire to highlight how identity is constantly provoked by internal and external forces. My work asks questions about the Asian American experience, and in that search for commonality, others are welcome to listen in.