Public Art

Growing up in in Paris and Rome, I was surrounded by public art and the presence of art in my every day lived experience is something I came to expect. My earliest memory of public art is the Bernini fountains in Piazza Navona. Back in the 70s when fear of someone getting hurt wasn’t really a thing, I remember using the central fountain as my own play structure. The fountain would get turned off for cleaning so when the water wasn’t running, I would just climb the monumental fountain to my heart’s content. Later in Paris, I remember walking across the Pont Neuf for the reveal of Christo and Jeanne Claude’s wrapping. So, for me public art feels deeply personal even though the scale can be monumental.

Unraveling, 2025 - cypress wood, marine grade plywood and stain.

Having the opportunity to create a large piece for a public setting and be a part of public art’s long tradition is something I have always dreamed of. It’s a pinch me moment to see my ideas come to life on a big scale.

“Unraveling” an all wood public art piece created specifically for the courtyard of a new real estate development in downtown Oakland, CA. This would not have been possible without ABG Art Group, and the incredibly hardworking teams they assembled to make this piece a reality. Working with a whole crew of fabricators and installers over many months stretched me in a good way.  The piece, titled “Unraveling” soars 20 feet high and is constructed out of cypress wood. It is composed of layered panels of wood that cascade with an intuitive rhythm. As sunlight shifts across the surface, changing contrasts reveal the evolving nature of perception; the experience evolves, offering the viewer a sense of both permanence and impermanence. Loved working at this scale. My head is now full of ideas for large scale work. Now I just need the spaces!