Ties to the Past 
49 in x 37 in
 
is an examination of growth and the shedding of former selves — the uncomfortable, necessary act of killing off who you once were to become who you are now. The roped border frames the work like both a lasso and a boundary, symbolizing the tension between holding on and letting go.
Within the scene, figures are entangled — part struggle, part embrace — suggesting transformation through confrontation. Humor, sexuality, and memory intertwine, reflecting the messy beauty of identity in flux. The painting honors what must be released while acknowledging that every past version still lives somewhere within the frame.