This series marks the beginning of my 2025 practice, with the red cat being the earliest piece—first painted during the summer of 2024, now reimagined in sculptural form. Inspired by the tactile joy of playgrounds, the raw power of cave paintings, and my ongoing exploration of animal symbolism, these works bring my imagery into a more playful and physical dimension.
In past work, I approached animals with a certain reverence and structure. With this series, I’ve allowed that formality to soften— toy-like, touchable, and filled with curiosity. The process of painting and shaping these sculptural panels felt instinctual, childlike, inviting me to approach my practice with innocence rather
than distance.

Color here is more than a visual tool—it’s a form of play. The saturated backgrounds and lively, almost animated outlines bring a sense of immediacy and physicality to each form. Ultimately this work is about reverence and joy: a tribute to animals as archetypal beings, to color as an invitation to wonder, and to
painting as a tactile, sculptural experience.