On Fantasy

On Fantasy examines how reality is transformed through imagery, delving into the complex interplay between fantasy, storytelling, and photography within the desert landscape of the photographer’s home state. Having spent much of her youth driving through this terrain, she developed a deep artistic connection to its ethereal qualities. Drawing inspiration from Victorian tableaux vivants—theatrical staged scenes that blend art and performance—it reinterprets these traditional forms through a contemporary lens. By situating the work within the striking and otherworldly landscape of the Colorado Desert, the photographs create a unique tension between the real and the surreal. Through dreamlike and occasionally nightmarish visions, the photographs merge elements of performance and the natural world, crafting scenes that are both strikingly beautiful and deeply unsettling. This body of work challenges the conventions of staged photography, pushing boundaries to reinvent it in a modern context. In doing so, it provides a counterpoint to the overwhelming noise and fleeting nature of contemporary visual culture, where images are consumed and discarded at a relentless pace. Instead, On Fantasy embraces a slower, more contemplative approach, inviting viewers to pause and engage deeply with its layers of meaning.