Acquired for Private Collection
This piece started on a found print of metal fasteners. I loved the warm orange tones and the idea of layering gold teeth over an image already filled with metal. It felt like a fun collision of materials that naturally belonged together.
The fingers are intentionally pulling the mouth open just a little wider than normal, revealing more than we’d usually see. It’s an unexpected gesture, exposing something that isn’t necessarily intimate, but isn’t typically on display either. The gold teeth and exaggerated fangs add a sense of tension, shifting the smile into something that feels both inviting and threatening.
There’s an obvious sense that something is happening here, but the purpose is never fully revealed. Is it confidence? A warning? A performance? I enjoy leaving that space open, allowing the viewer to decide what they’re really looking at.