As a product of growing up as a U.S. Army brat, witnessing the damaging impact of cancer with the passing of my late mother and grandmother; and navigating the digital age as a LGBTQ+ man— it is my hope that through my artwork people can contemplate the layered complexity of our identities as young Americans.

For me, I believe that the hope of this country can always be found in the hearts of military families that risk everything to safeguard the ideals that America represents. I picked up creating artwork while I was a graduate student at Boston University— a therapist I had at the time had suggested channeling my complex emotions into paintings.

Each time that we would meet, I reminded myself that “there are no mistakes” when it comes to how the paint was used— thrown or splattered, etc. — it only mattered to find common understanding in the final piece. It later became a hobby that was more about pinpointing my true emotions during the early 2020’s and the lessons of early adulthood.

If you are interested in a commissioned piece of artwork based on a color palette, please reach out via @rhinowillie_art on Instagram for details. Serious inquiries only.