Every time I look at art I remember something
I checked out a book of abstract paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe at the library a few weeks ago and when I looked through it I felt an odd sense of relief. This was a collection of work by an artist who’s no longer alive (b. 1887– d. 1986) but here I was in 2025, standing outside the library next to my bike, looking at her paintings before I even put the book into my bag.
There are so many reasons why you might never know how much your work means to someone, accepting this reality feels freeing and necessary and difficult at the same time.
When I think about all the hours that we time-limited humans are willing to devote to a thing to bring it into existence and the many ways we do that (paintings, songs, books, movies, birthday cakes, quilts, poems, backyard gardens, youtube videos, babies) not because we know exactly what will happen when we do, but because we want to, it gives me hope.
Not hope like “everything will be ok” (realistically a lot of things are not ok), but hope like, “maybe it’s possible to keep going, maybe we already know how.”
I’m going to release the paintings from IF I’VE EVER LOVED YOU, I STILL DO for sale next month (May 3? Maybe? Whatever I decide, you’ll be the first to hear about it). I will have some sale paintings for you too (the ones I finished that didn’t make it into the show).
Until then, you can view some of the paintings from the show online now (click here) if you didn’t get a chance to see it in Pittsburgh or just want to look at your favorite one again.
Reality check:
I’ve been working a very physically/emotionally demanding job since the beginning of January (taking care of two toddlers!) and I haven’t had any studio days. In December, I didn’t have a job (unless you count job searching?) and I painted a few days a week all month. Neither of these situations are ideal, both are real life.
more soon 🖤
nikita