A permanent sabbatical | A Reflection
After more than 25 years of pursuing truth through my art, I have made the decision to take what might be a permanent sabbatical from my career as a professional artist. This choice has not come lightly, but it feels like the natural conclusion to a deeply personal and transformative journey.
My artistic path began amidst a life of global movement, shaped by diverse and often challenging cultural experiences. Born in Kumi, Uganda, in 1975 to Dutch parents working to treat leprosy patients, I was exposed to a variety of worldviews from a young age. Growing up in Ethiopia, the United States, and the Netherlands, I sought to understand the essence of humanity beyond ego, belief systems, and societal facades. As a gay child navigating conservative religious environments, I was driven to look deeply within to understand my place in the world and what was true for me. This internal exploration expanded to a broader search for truth in the human experience, with art becoming my primary tool for navigating and expressing these complex emotions.
From the beginning, art was a way to process the struggles of my youth, including the trauma of religious indoctrination and cultural dislocation. My early years in Ethiopia and the U.S. were marked by upheaval, which left me searching for a sense of belonging. To find purpose and give back to society, I used art as a tool—painting murals in leprosy hospitals and other communities, creating connections, and seeking meaning through these acts of service. These experiences revealed the universal power of art to heal and to bridge gaps between people.
As I developed my practice, I explored different mediums—from oil painting, which served as my refuge for years, to figurative sculpture, which allowed me to break free from past limitations. While sculpture felt like a rebirth and opened new creative dimensions, it ultimately could not fully satisfy my need for purpose and meaning. Throughout my career, I received much praise for my talents and expressions, yet my practice never translated into real-world financial stability. Without that, the sense of fulfillment remained elusive, especially within the capitalist, often unhealthy world we live in today. This disconnection between the appreciation of my work and its material value became a significant factor in my decision to step away from my artistic career.
While I am stepping away from creating art professionally, the journey does not end. I carry forward the insights and experiences of 25 years into whatever comes next. My hope is that my work has provided moments of reflection and that the essence of my search for truth continues to resonate with others.
