Even my time studying sociology prepared me for the art world. Many social experiments involve violating a social norm—however small—and such studies often border on performance art and expose the patina of civilization. I find that successful contemporary art often plumbs the idiosyncrasies of the human experience, whether in a playful or confrontational manner.

Art has inspired and comforted me in good times and bad ones. During a particularly difficult time in my life when I worked for the CIA, I took refuge in art to not just escape but to inhabit and explore another plane of reality in which mundane rules don’t apply. This experience allowed me to transcend my challenges and realize the potential for innumerable possibilities in the world. It also inspired several of my works.

Some of my works are serious and philosophical, dealing with social and political issues or questioning authority. Through these, I encourage the viewer to think critically about society. Others are more whimsical and lighthearted. This balance is important. Communicating through the modalities of humor and beauty allows me to smuggle in deeper, darker issues that may spark difficult thinking about the world around us–and perhaps even encourage prosocial behavior.