I am an award-winning contemporary expressionistic painter currently residing and working in Corrales and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have long sought to capture “the spirit of place” in my artwork, finding inspiration from not only my current surroundings but also from the fragmented memories of my youth in Europe. From the age of four, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I earned a BFA in Ceramics and Studio Art and an MFA in Mixed Media from the Academy of Applied Arts University in Belgrade and completed postgraduate work in printmaking at the University of New Mexico.While enjoying a 20-year career as the Creative Director/Program Manager at Northrop Grumman, focused on technology and innovation in customized training and digital communications, I remained connected to the art world through my work as a rescue animal photographer and photo contributor to Getty/iStock. Now retired from the corporate world, I play daily with rhythmic layers of vivid acrylics and oils, energetically exploring creative interpretations of reality on canvas.My work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and my pieces are held in both public and private collections. In 2021, the City of Albuquerque purchased one of my large paintings for its “Art in Public Spaces” program. I also have a permanent collection of my paintings at the high-tech Senspex headquarters and a collection of large paintings at the NM Cancer Center.In 2022, I have been honored to be named a Local Treasure by the Albuquerque Arts Business Association.