Disconnect, oil on canvas, unframed, 2005

In Disconnect, I portray four versions of myself reaching, gesturing, and reacting to one another, yet never quite making contact. Each figure occupies the same physical space while remaining emotionally isolated, creating a visual tension between the desire for connection and the barriers we often place between ourselves.

Part of my Self-Portrait Explorations series, this painting reflects on communication, misunderstanding, and the fragmented nature of identity. Although each figure is a self-portrait, they represent familiar moments we all experience—hesitation, vulnerability, frustration, and the longing to be understood. The work asks whether the greatest disconnects in our lives exist between ourselves and others, or within ourselves.