I use different media—like photogravure prints, collage films, handwritten text—to transform my acts of looking, viewing or handling into layered works. Most of my work starts with research and I usually structure it with rules. Though series are covertly or overtly autobiographical, I don’t insist on a particular narrative. The meaning comes instead from gesture and repetition: works are guided by how I perform them and assemble fragments or artefacts. This act of making is what shapes the final form.
I studied in the U.K. and Ireland. Born and raised in New York City, I now live in San Francisco.
A longer statement is at the bottom of this page.
C.V.
Continuing education
2024 Drawing, Art Studio New York, New York City
2014 Photopolymer intaglio printmaking, Lower East Side Printshop, New York
2009 Large format photography, Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco
2024 Drawing, Art Studio New York, New York City
2014 Photopolymer intaglio printmaking, Lower East Side Printshop, New York
2009 Large format photography, Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco
Group shows
2023 Paper Weight (from Households) in "More Is More," Hot House Gallery, San Francisco
2016 Fire (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in "Postcards from the Edge," Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York City
2016 Lean in "In Celebration of Trees," Photo Place Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2016 Tap (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in Annual Members' Show, Manhattan Graphics Center, New York City
2015 Stop the War On in "Heads Will Roll," Artspace, New Haven, Connecticut
2015 Running in "Elemental," Flow Art Space, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2013–2015 1982, My Mom in "Early Works Project," Photographic Resource Center, Boston; Sol Mednick Gallery, Philadelphia; Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado; Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco; and Newspace Center for Photography, Portland, Oregon
2014 Arch and Parked in "Women in the Heights," Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, New York City
2012 Equity (full series) Making Room (full series) in "Illuminations," Krowswork Gallery, Oakland, California
2011 Making Room (full series) in "Sound and Vision," St John's Church, San Francisco
2010 Vantaa, Photoworks, San Francisco
2023 Paper Weight (from Households) in "More Is More," Hot House Gallery, San Francisco
2016 Fire (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in "Postcards from the Edge," Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York City
2016 Lean in "In Celebration of Trees," Photo Place Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2016 Tap (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in Annual Members' Show, Manhattan Graphics Center, New York City
2015 Stop the War On in "Heads Will Roll," Artspace, New Haven, Connecticut
2015 Running in "Elemental," Flow Art Space, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2013–2015 1982, My Mom in "Early Works Project," Photographic Resource Center, Boston; Sol Mednick Gallery, Philadelphia; Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado; Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco; and Newspace Center for Photography, Portland, Oregon
2014 Arch and Parked in "Women in the Heights," Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Gallery, New York City
2012 Equity (full series) Making Room (full series) in "Illuminations," Krowswork Gallery, Oakland, California
2011 Making Room (full series) in "Sound and Vision," St John's Church, San Francisco
2010 Vantaa, Photoworks, San Francisco
Distinctions
2022 Drawings used on the cover cover of the album Homage/Disruption, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Djurgården used on the cover of the album Memories, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Art curation and photojournalism used on social media, Office of the Mayor (Bill de Blasio), City of New York
2015 Open studio participant, Uptown Art Stroll, New York City
2014 Interview (about New York, filmed while printmaking), Overlander Travel (Mark Shea)
2014 Will-Call used on the cover of the album Calling You, Catherine Seidel and Denny Berthiaume
2011 Spoke at San Francisco Camerawork about Making Room
2011 Making Room became subject of international media blitz (see below)
2011 Named curator and creative director, Photoworks no. 4
2022 Drawings used on the cover cover of the album Homage/Disruption, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Djurgården used on the cover of the album Memories, Denny Berthiaume
2016 Art curation and photojournalism used on social media, Office of the Mayor (Bill de Blasio), City of New York
2015 Open studio participant, Uptown Art Stroll, New York City
2014 Interview (about New York, filmed while printmaking), Overlander Travel (Mark Shea)
2014 Will-Call used on the cover of the album Calling You, Catherine Seidel and Denny Berthiaume
2011 Spoke at San Francisco Camerawork about Making Room
2011 Making Room became subject of international media blitz (see below)
2011 Named curator and creative director, Photoworks no. 4
Publications
2019 "Paper Weight" (from Households) in Above the Bridge: An Anthology
2016 House (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in The Hand Magazine
2016 The series Households featured in Else: The Journal of International Art, Literature, Theory and Creative Media (Germany)
2015 The full series Equity featured in Boaat 4
2011 "Backseat," Photoworks no. 5
2011 "Galley," Photoworks no. 3
2010 "A2," Photoworks no. 2
2010 "Vantaa," Photoworks no. 1
2019 "Paper Weight" (from Households) in Above the Bridge: An Anthology
2016 House (from Reverse Interpreting Practise) in The Hand Magazine
2016 The series Households featured in Else: The Journal of International Art, Literature, Theory and Creative Media (Germany)
2015 The full series Equity featured in Boaat 4
2011 "Backseat," Photoworks no. 5
2011 "Galley," Photoworks no. 3
2010 "A2," Photoworks no. 2
2010 "Vantaa," Photoworks no. 1
Performances and readings
2018 Read "Gyroscope" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Pill Cutter" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Tiara" and "Coffee Tin" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Ice Skate" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Finial" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Telephone Cord" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Book End" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Typewriter Ball" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read the backstory to Iron Mountain at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Roladex" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Compass" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Eraser" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Paper Weight" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Performed Visit: What I Saw at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Record Album" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Gyroscope" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Pill Cutter" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Tiara" and "Coffee Tin" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2018 Read "Ice Skate" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Finial" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2017 Read "Telephone Cord" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Book End" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Typewriter Ball" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read the backstory to Iron Mountain at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Roladex" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Compass" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2016 Read "Eraser" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Paper Weight" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Performed Visit: What I Saw at Above the Bridge, New York City
2015 Read "Record Album" (from Households) at Above the Bridge, New York City
Pro bono
2015 Photographer, New York City Office of Emergency Management
2012–2013 Mentor, First Exposures, San Francisco
2012 Photographer, Rebuilding Together, San Francisco
2015 Photographer, New York City Office of Emergency Management
2012–2013 Mentor, First Exposures, San Francisco
2012 Photographer, Rebuilding Together, San Francisco
Solo shows
2011 Actual Café, Oakland
2011 Hôtel Biron, San Francisco
2011 Ritual, San Francisco
2011 Ensoma, San Francisco
2011 Actual Café, Oakland
2011 Hôtel Biron, San Francisco
2011 Ritual, San Francisco
2011 Ensoma, San Francisco
Education
PhD, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
MA (Hons), University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
PhD, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
MA (Hons), University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Press mentions
"April Oakland Art Murmur" Art Enthusiast, April 11, 2012
"Artist has work removed from Ritual Coffee Roasters, deemed too 'serious'" Rangefinder Forum, June 28, 2011
"Cafe Criticized for Removing Art Deemed 'Too Serious'" Daily Coffee News, July 7, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Hates 'Serious' Art?" Snapandgo, June 27, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2011
"Your Photography Is Too Serious for This Cool Café" Photoworks San Francisco, June 28, 2011
Barman, Jay, "Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" Grub Street, June 28, 2011
Bennett, Denise, "Controversy in Local and Regional Art," Artlarking, July 18, 2011
Bigman, Alex, "Four Fab Art Gallery Openings" 7X7, March 21, 2012
Brenner, Lisa, "Week Around the Ists" July 3, 2011
Chavez, Lydia, "Ritual Asks Artist to Remove Work — What Would You Do?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Donohue, Caitlin, "Ritual Coffee puts a bird on it" San Francisco Bay Guardian, June 30, 2011
Feeney, Mark, "At the PRC, Getting a Head Start Behind the Camera" Boston Globe, January 29, 2015
Hawk, Thomas, "Ritual Coffee Roasters Owner Eileen Hassi Pulls Artist’s Work from Display?" Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection, June 27, 2011
Hintz-Zambrano, Katie, "Five things to know this AM," Refinery 29, June 28, 2011
Hough, Allan, "Ritual Roasters and the art of banning art," Mission Mission, June 28, 2011
Ireland, Liz, "Eat the Week: Off the Grid’s Birthday, Fresh & Easy Hits SF, BreastFest Returns, Art Deemed Too Serious For Ritual, Bowling Alley Fever" Poor Taste San Francisco, July 1, 2011
Keeling, Brock, "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" SFist, June 27, 2011
Kuchar, Sally, "Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work; How Not To Sell a House; Bikes and Business in Oakland; More!" Curbed SF, June 28, 2011 [reposted from SFist]
Pearce, Rocio Russo, "Photographer banned at local coffee shop" Rocio Russo June 28, 2011
Perez, Cassie and Jenna Paul-Schultz, "It May Be Art, But Does It Go With Coffee?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Sikora, Kim, "Varese Layzer's Exploration of Loss" Dickerman Prints, April 27, 2012
Sinclair, Llewellyn, "Come On, Eileen: Ritual Owner Removes Challenging Art Show" Sprudge, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Art Displaying Grief 'Too Serious' for SF Cafe" Seven Ponds, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Controversial Art Finds a Home in the East Bay" Seven Ponds, April 1, 2012
Smith, Heather, "It May Be Art, But Does it Go Well With Coffee?" The Mission Blog at the San Francisco Chronicle, June 28, 2011
Tedford, Matthew Harrison, "Latte Art: A Manifesto" Poor Taste Magazine, July 20th, 2011
Wadding, Chris "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" D10 Watch, June 28, 2011
Wright, Andy, "The Great Fluffy Debate: What Kind of Art Belongs in Coffee Shops?" The Bay Citizen, July 7, 2011
Wright, Andy, "Art Deemed 'Too Serious' for Ritual Coffee to Display at Church" The Bay Citizen, July 22, 2011
"Artist has work removed from Ritual Coffee Roasters, deemed too 'serious'" Rangefinder Forum, June 28, 2011
"Cafe Criticized for Removing Art Deemed 'Too Serious'" Daily Coffee News, July 7, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Hates 'Serious' Art?" Snapandgo, June 27, 2011
"Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2011
"Your Photography Is Too Serious for This Cool Café" Photoworks San Francisco, June 28, 2011
Barman, Jay, "Ritual Coffee Owner Not a Fan of Art That’s Sad" Grub Street, June 28, 2011
Bennett, Denise, "Controversy in Local and Regional Art," Artlarking, July 18, 2011
Bigman, Alex, "Four Fab Art Gallery Openings" 7X7, March 21, 2012
Brenner, Lisa, "Week Around the Ists" July 3, 2011
Chavez, Lydia, "Ritual Asks Artist to Remove Work — What Would You Do?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Donohue, Caitlin, "Ritual Coffee puts a bird on it" San Francisco Bay Guardian, June 30, 2011
Feeney, Mark, "At the PRC, Getting a Head Start Behind the Camera" Boston Globe, January 29, 2015
Hawk, Thomas, "Ritual Coffee Roasters Owner Eileen Hassi Pulls Artist’s Work from Display?" Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection, June 27, 2011
Hintz-Zambrano, Katie, "Five things to know this AM," Refinery 29, June 28, 2011
Hough, Allan, "Ritual Roasters and the art of banning art," Mission Mission, June 28, 2011
Ireland, Liz, "Eat the Week: Off the Grid’s Birthday, Fresh & Easy Hits SF, BreastFest Returns, Art Deemed Too Serious For Ritual, Bowling Alley Fever" Poor Taste San Francisco, July 1, 2011
Keeling, Brock, "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" SFist, June 27, 2011
Kuchar, Sally, "Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work; How Not To Sell a House; Bikes and Business in Oakland; More!" Curbed SF, June 28, 2011 [reposted from SFist]
Pearce, Rocio Russo, "Photographer banned at local coffee shop" Rocio Russo June 28, 2011
Perez, Cassie and Jenna Paul-Schultz, "It May Be Art, But Does It Go With Coffee?" Mission Local, June 28, 2011
Sikora, Kim, "Varese Layzer's Exploration of Loss" Dickerman Prints, April 27, 2012
Sinclair, Llewellyn, "Come On, Eileen: Ritual Owner Removes Challenging Art Show" Sprudge, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Art Displaying Grief 'Too Serious' for SF Cafe" Seven Ponds, July 3, 2011
Sitar, Dana, "Controversial Art Finds a Home in the East Bay" Seven Ponds, April 1, 2012
Smith, Heather, "It May Be Art, But Does it Go Well With Coffee?" The Mission Blog at the San Francisco Chronicle, June 28, 2011
Tedford, Matthew Harrison, "Latte Art: A Manifesto" Poor Taste Magazine, July 20th, 2011
Wadding, Chris "Deemed 'Too Serious,' Ritual Coffee Bans Artist's Work" D10 Watch, June 28, 2011
Wright, Andy, "The Great Fluffy Debate: What Kind of Art Belongs in Coffee Shops?" The Bay Citizen, July 7, 2011
Wright, Andy, "Art Deemed 'Too Serious' for Ritual Coffee to Display at Church" The Bay Citizen, July 22, 2011
Statement
I work in series that build slowly, often through repetition. In this way, my process is durational and embodied. The art is a record of my persistence.
The works are materially diverse—drawings, prints, text, photos, film—but anchored in process and structure. Many series are shaped by conceptual rules; these can be temporal, structural or procedural.
The practice usually begins with direct acts of looking or handling. Many works are imprints or indexical records, like traces of books carried or screens watched. These embodied gestures start chains of transformation. The original object is no longer there but its presence lingers. Recent series especially function less as representation and more as records of interactions.
The projects are research driven. One documents systematic engagement with certain books (more than 900 so far) as lived objects, yielding works on paper. Another reframes media fragments I shot through a phone’s viewfinder: they become collage films whose form is guided by rules. In one piece, I edit 40 hours of field recordings, interviews and music into a photofilm’s 20-minute soundtrack; the photos in the film tell a complementary story. In yet another, I write thousands of barely legible handwritten words on printmaking paper. Next to photogravure prints I made on the same type of paper, the writing becomes both material surface and obstructed communication, echoing the narrative.
Performance is integral as acts of reading, watching, writing, inventorying. The works do not insist on an interpretation but suggest the conditions for one: fragmented, unstable, unresolved. Serial form, duration, and gesture are the grammar.
There is meaning in accumulation over time. Viewers have described the feeling of looking at my work as "watching a flock of birds” or “a scroll unfurling.” I don't ask viewers to decode a message or arrive at a fixed meaning. What matters is that the structure invites navigation.
My background as a scholar of early medieval literature informs my methods and my approach. There's a respect for the handwritten, for books as living objects, for the importance of recording events contrasted with the layered and subjective—and therefore unreliable—nature of writing history. I’m drawn to partial legibility and fragments, to ways of telling that conceal information as much as they display it.
Quotes
"Your photos are a moving, artistic documentary of the pain and beauty of transition – looking back without a reassuring window on the future. You have singled out so effectively select portions of space, object, and evoked experience."
"Your work is strong and personal and authentic."
"I love your photographs; they are somewhat sad, but they are beautiful and somehow organic, both in the presence and in the dissolution of a life lived. They especially resonate with me as I have been taking photos of the disintegration of my family's farm for some years."
"I was taken by the beauty and power of the images.”
"I stopped for quite a long time to look at your work and was really struck by it, thinking about my past, memory, history, etc. I ended up having a dream where several of your images figured in.”
"Case evokes a whole world of 20th-century Proustian memory – those photos, that suitcase, just are the unrecoverable time of parents and grandparents. (It reminds me also of W.G. Sebald's writing, whose meditations on memory, imagination, and re-collection might fit your work.) Pastorale gave me the immediate sense that I wanted it on my wall: there are centuries of experience slipped into that photo.”
"Your pictures alone are stunning (right up my alley, as I love light, forms, and color). Before I even read the statement, I definitely could feel a sense of loss and memory in your photos. They're truly fantastic. But coupled with the statement, I think your work is quite amazing and tells a sad but inevitable story. I'm so glad you got to share it for a brief moment.”
"What you are producing is powerful, real, and immensely beautiful.”
"The photo of the piano – the way it is underexposed – really caught my attention. The subtle tones encourage a closer look. The piano is a symbol for so many things: childhood, joy of music and, for some, escape. What I took from that single photograph is the sound of music, or lack thereof. Your photograph asks your viewer many questions.”
"The images are simply beautiful and haunting and how anyone cannot see that they are an affirmation of life is beyond me.”
"Your 'banned' photo essay moved me very much. I lost both my parents in recent years, and had to do a smaller-scale version of your cleanout of their apartment. Your images evoked those feelings again: the memories inherent in commonplace objects, the empty spaces where life was once lived.”
"The art is subtly saturated with the poignant presence of loss."