Intaglio, April 2026

My immersive landscape is based on my recent struggles with getting diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Particularly, I wanted to focus on how fatigued I’ve felt for years with no explanation up until now. I was drawn to this topic because I cannot escape my medical condition nor my fatigue, and I wanted to find a way to show the viewer how it can feel through an immersive sculpture. Crohn’s disease causes so many symptoms, but the one I’ve struggled with most is being constantly exhausted. This self-portrait was a way to reflect on how my body feels, even if it looks normal on the outside. This is the “invisible” part of an invisible illness, finally being seen. I knew I wanted to use my colonoscopy photos, too- the things that were confirmation of all the abdominal pain I had been feeling this summer. I have found myself feeling anger and grief during this diagnosis process, and putting those feelings into artwork helps me communicate my feelings and process them for myself.