In the universe love surrounds us - 2022

I painted In the Universe Love Surrounds Us during my first year living in New York City — a year that felt intense, confusing, and deeply formative.

I was spending a lot of time alone, trying to understand who I was becoming in a new city, a new rhythm, a new version of myself. I had just started working in a restaurant, and while the pace was vibrant and full of movement, the environment carried a heaviness that affected me more than I expected.

Instead of painting that darkness directly, I chose to paint what I needed most at the time: love.

This piece became a reminder to myself — almost a quiet note — that even when things feel hostile or isolating, love still exists. It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle, cosmic, and internal. Sometimes it’s simply something you decide to believe in.

The two abstract creatures facing each other started as a reflection of my inner dialogue — different versions of myself, past and present, learning how to coexist. As the painting evolved, so did my emotional state. Somewhere in the process, I realized I was developing feelings for someone completely unexpected.

That experience didn’t turn into a shared love story, and that’s okay. What stayed with me was awareness. It helped me understand my own tenderness, my capacity to feel, and what I value emotionally.

Looking back, this painting isn’t about conflict, rejection, or even romance. It’s about choosing softness in moments when it would be easier to close off. It’s about recognizing that love doesn’t always come from outside — often, it’s something we practice toward ourselves.

For me, In the Universe Love Surrounds Us is a reminder that love is not something we wait for. It’s something we carry.