“Beauty Is Within" We use this phrase to describe the beauty of humanity, yet when was the last time we applied it to the world around us? The patterns in a crashing wave, a piece of bark fallen from a tree; In nature, the most compelling patterns and textures live underneath the surface. As I stack and scrape paint on my canvases or rip and rearrange paper in my collaging, I find my process profoundly influenced by these unique layers and markings. It is in the true abstract that I feel unrestricted in my creativity and free to explore the here and now, where there are no boundaries of rights or wrongs. My intention is to celebrate nature's complexities, simplicities, and perfect imperfections. I strive for the viewer to have the same freedoms, finding their own meanings in all of my works. I work with a variety of mixed media, including acrylic and oil paints, charcoal, and wood stains. I often incorporate materials that add rich textures, such as beach sand and coffee grounds. I was born in Steneby, Sweden, a small, rural community with forests, lakes, ancient rock formations, wildflower meadows, and lots of trees. I learned to see the wonders of my environment at an early age. In my late teens, I moved to Stockholm to study acting at the Kalle Flygare School of Drama. While at school, I was recruited by a Parisian modeling agency and left Stockholm for Paris. It was there that I discovered the world of art and fell in love with abstract expressionism. My work eventually brought me to New York and I signed with Ford Models Management and The Nina Blanchard Agency in Los Angeles. I was bicoastal for a while but my love for the North East took me back to New York where I met my husband. We have two children and live in Connecticut.