Villa Maria College B.F.A Thesis Exhibition
2025 - 2026
Duende at Silo City
Echoes of 1901
The Knox Estate Hounds
The Arctic Edge
Where Else Would You Rather Be Than Right Here, Right Now
A City of Good Neighbors
The Scajaquada Crossing
Niagara Square Spectators
The Crystal Palace Frontier
Olmsted’s Pink Dream
A Wright Perspective
Ridge Runners
Shark Girl at Canalside
Erie Basin Marina
The Wonder Theater
Buffalo: Small World, Big Places, investigates the relationship between scale, place, and perception by inserting small figurines into well-known Buffalo landmarks and everyday settings. These miniature scenes are carefully staged within recognizable environments such as City Hall, Downtown Canalside, and Highmark Stadium. By placing small figures into spaces deeply rooted in local identity, I create still-life compositions that merge the imagined with the real, challenging the way viewers typically experience these locations.
The process begins with selecting figurines and environments that complement one another in tone, gesture, and meaning. Each scene is thoughtfully constructed on site, allowing the figurines to interact with their surroundings rather than simply exist within them. Photography becomes the final step in preserving these ephemeral moments, framing the illusion so that scale feels intentionally ambiguous. The camera acts as a tool to collapse distance, making the miniature appear monumental and the familiar feel newly discovered.
By manipulating scale, I aim to disrupt expectations and encourage curiosity. These altered perspectives invite viewers to slow down and engage more deeply with spaces they may otherwise overlook. The work blurs the boundary between fantasy and reality, transforming ordinary locations into playful, imaginative landscapes. Ultimately, my practice seeks to reframe Buffalo’s everyday environments, offering a sense of wonder and renewed attention to the places that shape our shared experience.
