Office Space/ Milton Acrylic Painting

"I Believe You Have My Stapler" | Acrylic on canvas | 2018

Prairie-dogging is elevated to a new level at the office. Part of the Shiny Beautiful Things series, this painting is quite the conversation piece. Onlookers peer over their cubicles as Milton continues to fend off new coveters of his red Swingline stapler. Unframed but wired to hang, canvas measures 12" H x 16" W, and will bring loads of giggles.

For the Shiny Beautiful Things series, I decided to explore why we classify certain animals as trashy and hold others in such high esteem, considering we develop buildings on their natural habitats and are responsible for the majority of the trash on this planet. In my research, I learned the critters we deem invasive, feral, and unwanted weren't always this way – it's a learned response due to our overconsumption. Additionally, it's likely they remind us of the qualities we don't like about ourselves. The series depicts our maligned filthy friends finding ways to survive and thrive amid their trashy existence.