artist statement

Grief has been a neglected emotion that I have been carrying since the sudden death of my brother in 1989, unaware of the impact it was having on my art practice and just how much it had been holding me back.

In late 2023, through mentorship, I embarked on a process of deep self-reflection and eased myself into the discomfort of sorrow and profound loss. Through ‘doing the work’ it was revealed to me just how much I had been burying away. Not only had I put a lid on feeling the pain of the loss of my brother through taking recreational drugs but I had also lessened just how serious the action and the impact on me was due to my father repeatedly snatching me from my mother when I was 18 months old and by being sexually abused when I was seven.

Through the practice of sitting in the vulnerability and tension and allowing myself to feel the pain that arose due to such losses I have been able to find the light in the crack – the joy and the love for my brother and the confidence in my voice.

My art practice explores such lived experiences through the predominant use of text and mapping as a means to bear witness. I have created series of works such as someone’s chair snapshots – looking for my brother (2009-2023), text based posters – thinking out loud. Season 1 (2023-2025), you were/are my sparkle my joy: an inspirational Memoir born out of tragedy (2024) and have works in progress – The Minimising Series and honouring the unseen which include mapping my existence through the 24 bus route (2025 – present day) and Michael Cassidy Blanket and Michael Cassidy Cushion (2024 – present day) and WOUNDED (2026 – present day). Additionally I write a blog – musings (2025 – present day).

I welcome viewers to explore what lays beneath the initial joy that my artworks present, the complexity of the experiences that they represent and to initiate conversations around what have historically been taboo subjects – death, loss, abuse and grief, in all of their many permeations.