Water is a Currency

Annenberg Community Beach House Gallery, Santa Monica, California

April 4 – September 27, 2026

I was honored to participate in Water is a Currency, a group exhibition at the Annenberg Community Beach House Gallery in Santa Monica. Curated by Laura Nieto and Natalie Marrero, the exhibition brought together artists whose work explores water as a source of memory, movement, resilience, and transformation.

Situated at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the exhibition invited visitors to reflect on humanity's profound relationship with water—not simply as a natural resource, but as a living archive that carries history, culture, migration, and renewal.

For this exhibition, I presented two works:

Aurora Nova (Begin Again) explores light, reflection, and the possibility of renewal. Constructed from mirrored acrylic, the work shifts with changing light and the movement of the viewer, creating an ever-evolving experience that speaks to transformation and hope.

One is an interactive mirrored installation inspired by the poetry of Rumi. As viewers encounter their own reflection within the work, they become part of the piece itself, emphasizing our shared humanity and interconnectedness. Reflection becomes both literal and metaphorical—a reminder that we are inseparable from the natural world and from one another.

The exhibition beautifully aligned with my ongoing exploration of light, perception, and participation. Just as water reflects, refracts, and connects, my work invites viewers to complete the artwork through their own presence. In both water and light, we find movement, memory, and the possibility of seeing ourselves—and each other—with renewed clarity.

I am grateful to curators Laura Nieto and Natalie Marrero, the City of Santa Monica, and the Annenberg Community Beach House for including my work in this thoughtful exhibition. It was also a pleasure to lead a public workshop as part of the exhibition, sharing my creative process with the community.

As a 2026–2027 Camera Obscura Artist in Residence, based at Bergamot Station Arts Center, I look forward to continuing this exploration of light, perception, and participation through new work and public engagement.

Aurora Nova ( Begin Again!)

The exhibition opening brought together artists, curators, and visitors in conversations about water, light, and the many ways art fosters reflection and connection.