Casting Spells

Spellcasting On Queens Blvd And 48th Street
18”x24” mixed media 3D floating collage.
2025

Introducing my newest 3D floating collage, Spellcasting On Queens Blvd. And 48th Street.

This work was inspired for my love of my diverse neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens. Like many of my works, this collage consists of layers of vibrant color and abstract shapes that I painted and cut out on watercolor paper.

As I was building it out, I knew I wanted this collage to represent the mosaic of cultures that make up so much of Queens, which makes this part of New York City feel so magical. I wanted to create this idea of how this intersection of cultures opens doors to different worlds. The title comes from an actual intersection where Queens Boulevard bisects into different, smaller streets highlighted by the smaller white circles. Around the perimeter, there are portals that also resemble eyes, which a symbol that appears often in my work as a form of witnessing and vigilance.

My initial concept was to build a work around the idea of “neighborhood watch”, as a commentary on the state of hypervigiliance that immigrant communities under constant ICE surveillance but I wanted to create something more hopeful and uplifting. I still like the idea of spell casting and creating gateways as a form of resistance and escape.