ARTIST Q&A

Born: Los Angeles, California

Currently lives: Belmont, MA

Title of artwork: une horlage à formage

What’s it about? Collage clocks began with one girl’s love for cheese, the simple joy in life.

I was looking for a way to destress during my first Massachusetts winter. As someone from California, I wasn’t used to spending so much time indoors. I kept looking at this blank white clock we got from Ikea, and thought how cool it would be to make a collage that could then be placed inside the clock.

I had a collage kit I purchased from Make & Mend, and decided that whatever content was in this kit was going to be used for the clock. I lucked out and found a page with all different sorts of cheeses, and voila, une horloge à formage (a cheese clock) was born!

I love this silly little piece because there are so many funny puns you can make, like “you’ll always brie on time” or “you mozz have a lot of time on your hands” or “it’s a havarti past a hair,” I could keep going, but I will stop. I also spent a long time studying French in my 20s, so being able to keep my love for the language alive through my art is meaningful.

This piece marked my first time collaging on clocks and has evolved into a new body of work, where I have begun exploring the complexities of time and how we can have so little or way too much of it on our hands. Using the clock as a substrate has also helped me process grief, loss, and joy.

Where else can we find your work?You can find my work on my website, instagram. I have shown pieces at the Cambridge Art Association, Arlington Center for the Arts, Harvard University, and Kolaj Institute in New Orleans. I hope to show more in Cambridge and Boston in the upcoming year.

Where is your favorite public art piece in the area?
Right now I am really loving all the work being produced out of the Triennial, however, I have a special place in my heart for the Wish You Were Here mural in Allston by Tianna Rivera. My six-year-old visited this piece with his preschool two years ago when they were learning about public art, and he loves showing and talking about it with me. We recently went on a photo walk with a friend, and my son took many Polaroid photos of this wall, so it has a special place in my heart. It is associated with several joyful memories, particularly highlighting the importance of public art for children. It’s fun, vibrant, and funky, all characteristics I love to see in public art.

Who is your favorite Boston-area artist to follow?
Gabriel Sosas, specifically ñ press, a community print studio and publishing platform he created specifically for the Boston Public Art Triennial in 2025. I also really love crystal bi & Dzidzor and their dream portal with the Department of Public Imagination

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? I enjoy reading and riding my bike to discover new places, such as bookstores, coffee shops, and outdoor spaces, where I can escape into nature.

What is your top song for 2025 so far?
Pareidolies by Polo & Pan

Favorite food spot in in Allston, Brighton or the surrounding area? Isshindo Ramen!

What have you learned about your creative practice in recent years? I create some of my best work when I have a deadline. Also, when I let go of trying to create something perfect, like perfect cuts or proportions, I find more beauty and meaning in the imperfections that emerge.

I have also learned that I am constantly growing, and my most meaningful works come from moments where I am truly uncomfortable. I have begun to embrace being comfortable in the uncomfortable or the unknown. One way I do this is to seek out new artists and creators in my surroundings actively, check out their work, and always ask questions.

Lastly, I have been practicing active listening more consciously when around others. Meditation and physical activity are key to ensuring my creative practice thrives. I have learned that I need to make time for movement and a meditation practice because without these, my brain doesn’t function, and I am not able to be fully present with my loved ones or in my creative practice.

What is a piece of advice you would give to your past self as a young artist?Always create. Just keep making, don’t stop. Submit your work; don’t let imposter syndrome or ego hold you back. Just do it!

What is your dream project to work on? I would love to work on a collaborative community mural. It would be awesome to incorporate large scale black and white analog photography. I would want it to focus on the people in the community and how they want their community to be represented creatively, especially young children and families!