Anatomy of Resilience

Anatomy of Resilience is a series of charcoal studies that investigate the structure and symbolism of vertebrae—forms that support the body even as they struggle under pressure. Each drawing focuses on a single variation: a fracture, a fusion, a shift in alignment, or the protective growth that forms in response to strain. By isolating these shapes, I examine how the body adapts and rebuilds itself after injury.

Working in charcoal allows me to explore softness and impact in ways metal cannot. The smudges, erasures, and layered marks mimic the uncertainty and negotiation of living with chronic pain. Highlights emerge from the dark, revealing where strength develops and where vulnerability remains.

These studies inform my sculptural work, but they also stand on their own as portraits of endurance. They reflect how resilience is formed—not through returning to what was, but through transformation, compensation, and the quiet determination to remain upright.