These drawings evolved from playing with childhood materials, crayons and paper, where one applies bright colors under darker ones, and then scratches through to the reveal the shapes beneath the surface. They are inspired by images of both stem cells and the cosmos, the microcosmic and macrocosmic elements of life that share surprisingly visual connections. These connections are reflected in the titles, Hematopoiesis, the development of blood cells, paired with references to the universe—Galactic, Nebulae, Astral, Celestial.  
 
          These are personal as well as artistic expressions. In March 2023, after a diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), I received a stem cell transplant supervised by my Dana Farber transplant team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. This life-saving experience inspired the series. Over the past two years the drawings have grown in scale and aim to express a sense of joy and optimism. Not intended to be exact reproductions of cells, the drawings aim to evoke a life-affirming spirit of self-renewal, be it at the cellular, emotional, and even professional level.
 

To view a short video of the art making process made in my studio by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, click here: 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNRBM5pvqy_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Thrilled to have my piece, "Hematopoiesis, Celestial 1" chosen for GBH Boston's Community Canvas digital mural program! Click here for more info: www.wgbh.org/foundation/digital-mural/2026-03-31/tuesday-march-31