Beginning with the domestication of the wild canine, humans have long sought after relationships with dogs in order to utilize and exploit their natural hunting abilities. The history of dogs being weaponized against humans by dominant power structures is as prolific as their reputation for love and companionship, with records of their deployment in war first occurring in 7th century Greece. My artistic interests began with tracing the lineage of the modern police K-9 in which large Cuban bloodhounds were used in the early 18th century to bolster non-organized slave patrol units in the southern United States.  In my current work, I employ traditional printmaking techniques to explore the historic use of canine aggression to oppress communities of color within the United States.

My graphic works look critically at western institutions and their use of canines, like for example, the use of dogs by United States law enforcement agencies as it mirrors colonialism, white supremacy, and  slave trade support. In my print work, I aim to visualize and question the practices and traditions of Western dog owners by referring to the histories that these traditions draw from. With emphasis placed on accessibility and the political history of printmaking,  archival texts, photographs, and artworks will be reproduced in a free zine as well as artists’ book alongside my prints. The aim of the distribution of texts initiates and expands the conversation surrounding systems of oppressions in the West—its language, image, and scope.