I grew up in the Sonoran Desert. My passion for visual arts emerged around the third grade during a school-wide poster contest. I had never picked up pencils or paints with “intent” before that moment, but when I did, the floodgates opened. I received my first film camera when I was 9, a hand-me-down Minolta Hi-Matic my dad had from his early 20s. My passion grew for the medium along with a strong desire to improve my technical skills, as I fumbled through countless trial-and-error rolls of film. I spent much of my adolescent years immersing myself in any and every kind of visual art accessible to me. I am primarily self-taught; my junior high and high school art classes gave me exposure to darkroom methods and to explore mixed mediums freely. I briefly attended art school, but quickly realized the world of formal art education was not for me due to the restrictive structure and lack of affordability. Once I left behind the idea that I needed to fit inside a specific mold I was able to find my voice independently and create freely on my terms.

Creating is as organic as it is for me to breathe, and just as crucial for my survival and mental health. I try not to limit myself to any specific medium, and I am always looking for some new skill to pick up. I am inspired by natural and fabricated environments, by human emotion and relationships, by science and the macabre. I create through the lens of a queer disabled Afro-Indigenous person. My goal is always to highlight the beauty, diversity, and individual truths of the world I exist in, while I continuously advocate for justice and equity. I hope to bring people together, to educate, and collectively question societal norms and commonly accepted ideas. Through my art, I hope to access personal joy and healing.

I am a Seattle, Washington-based creator, community health scientist, full-spectrum harm reduction doula, organizer, and advocate. I use visual art to tell stories, to elevate voices, and dissect the world we live in and further understand interconnected relationships and possibility for change. Contact me at intravenousvenus@gmail.com.

Group Exhibitions:

2024

“Belonging”, UW School of Social Work Gallery, Seattle WA, curator & contributor

“Safety Blankets: Discourse on Neurodivergence”, Phoenix Art Museum’s Education Gallery, Phoenix AZ

“Safety Blankets: Discourse on Neurodivergence”, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museaum, Mesa AZ

2022

“The Threat of Dissent” exhibition, Walter Where?House, Phoenix AZ

2019

Femme Fotal Volume 6 “Health”, ASU Northlight Gallery, Phoenix AZ

2018

Don’t Smile “Color Balance”, Phoenix AZ ; http://dont-smile.com/exhibitions-1/color-balance

2016

“Girl's Imprint: A Photo Show” by Femme Fotale, The Drive-Thru Gallery & Studio, Phoenix AZ

“Up Close: A Personal Evening with the Film Community”, The Drive-Thru Gallery & Studio, Phoenix AZ

2009

“Emerging Artist”, Lost Leaf Gallery, Phoenix AZ

2004

Southern Arizona Juried Student Art Exhibition, First Place in Paintings.

Publications

2021-2024

LEAP Artist Collective Zine, curator & contributor

2019

Rudeeely Arrogant Clothing Co. 1369 lookbook campaign

Femme Fotal Volume VI “Health”, contributor

2018

In The Weeds zine, author

Femme Fotal Volume V “Resistance Resilience Hope”, contributor

2017

Femme Fotal Volume IV “Leafless”, contributor

2016

Fem Static Issue 6: Kinks and Cosplay, contributor

Femme Fotal Volume III “Analog”, contributor

Femme Fotal Volume II “Relationships”, contributor

Femme Fotal Volume I, contributor