This work is an ongoing project examining, not only the power and value of celebrity in our culture, but also an exploration of how celebrities gain and use their social currency. The subjects that I choose are not simply famous, but people, I feel, are genuine and significant in their talents and actions. I am not subscribing to absolute idolization; I recognize the flawed humanness in all of my subjects. What I strive for is to paint individuals that are authentic by living and working their truth.

As part of the series, I make two paintings of each chosen individual. I attempt to get the subject to sign both paintings. If they agree, they get to choose one painting to keep as a gift. I consider the signature a collaboration. Not only are they are marking my creative work with a seal of approval, they are also adding to it, as their signature is both a visual representation of their career and something that effects the cultural and monetary value of the work. This exchange becomes a window into the reverence and value our culture places on a person and the infatuation with, and idolization of, certain people. It raises the question, what true value is imbued in my work with this mark making based, in part, on the celebrity of that person? 

Part of this artistic process in this series is finding ways to access and communicate with my subjects, which can be extremely challenging. Until the painting is signed, I consider it incomplete because it does not match my vision of what the painting can ultimately be. I am choosing to give these people, whom I have never met, control and power over my artwork, which is an apt reflection of the mostly one-way street of influence that celebrities may have on others.

I have also committed to giving 20% of the proceeds from these signed paintings to charity. Read more about the 20% Pledge.