A Conversation with My Younger Self
Photographed in my studio at NYU's Third North Residence Hall in 2024 during my junior year
Recently, I received an email from a librarian at New York University containing a transcript of an interview I participated in during my senior year. The conversation focused on my artistic practice and the role of research in studio art. Reading through the transcript was akin to opening a time capsule. I revisited the thoughts, ambitions, and uncertainties of my younger self, an artist striving to understand what it means to dedicate one’s life to painting.
I was most struck by how many aspects have remained unchanged. In the interview, I discussed my fascination with birds, wildlife, nature, and art history. I described collecting books, visiting museums, carrying notebooks, and continually searching for inspiration. Years later, these interests continue to shape my work. Nature remains a primary teacher, and observation remains central to my creative process. In retrospect, many of the themes I explore today were already present, slowly taking root in my studio practice.
Working on “Le Rêve du Mandrill” (2025) in my Tribeca studio.
Simultaneously, the interview highlighted the extent of my growth. As a student, I described my work as highly intuitive, guided more by instinct than by research. While I continue to value intuition, I now recognize that research encompasses more than books and academic texts. It can include conversations, museum visits, walks through a city, or careful observation of the natural world. Each experience has the potential to deepen understanding and enrich artistic practice.
The most meaningful realization emerged from rereading my reflections on community. I emphasized the importance of mentors, family, friends, and fellow artists in shaping my development. This conviction has only strengthened over time. Although painting often occurs in solitude, artistic growth is seldom a solitary pursuit. Every teacher, collector, student, and friend contributes to the journey.
Working on “Blooming Harmony” in my NYU studio at Third North in 2024.
The artist who responded to those questions during his senior year was still searching for direction. In many respects, I continue this search. This ongoing pursuit may be one of the greatest gifts of an artistic life. There is always another lesson to learn, another painting to begin, and another version of oneself waiting to emerge. Revisiting this interview reaffirmed that while techniques evolve and circumstances shift, curiosity remains constant. The artist I was continues to inform the artist I am becoming.