Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
30in x 30in x 1.5in
Acrylic on linen canvas
From the series Under the Surface
This painting explores the seductive psychology of startup culture through the lens of the anglerfish — a deep-sea predator that survives by attracting prey with light.
Named after a stage of venture capital funding associated with rapid growth and expansion, Series B examines the emotional economy of ambition, hope, and speculative reward within modern corporate environments. Employees are often drawn toward promises of ownership, flexibility, future wealth, unlimited PTO, meaningful impact, and the possibility of “building something big.” The lure glows with aspiration.
But beneath the surface, the dynamics can become extractive. Personal identity merges with company identity. Boundaries dissolve in the name of passion, urgency, and shared mission. Stability is deferred in exchange for potential. The future itself becomes compensation.
The anglerfish functions as both predator and ecosystem — a symbol of workplaces that sustain themselves through attraction, optimism, and the constant pursuit of growth, even in conditions where exhaustion, instability, and disposability quietly persist.
Within Under the Surface, the work reflects on the survival traits that emerge inside contemporary professional culture and the unseen emotional adaptations required to endure it.
30in x 30in x 1.5in
Acrylic on linen canvas
From the series Under the Surface
This painting explores the seductive psychology of startup culture through the lens of the anglerfish — a deep-sea predator that survives by attracting prey with light.
Named after a stage of venture capital funding associated with rapid growth and expansion, Series B examines the emotional economy of ambition, hope, and speculative reward within modern corporate environments. Employees are often drawn toward promises of ownership, flexibility, future wealth, unlimited PTO, meaningful impact, and the possibility of “building something big.” The lure glows with aspiration.
But beneath the surface, the dynamics can become extractive. Personal identity merges with company identity. Boundaries dissolve in the name of passion, urgency, and shared mission. Stability is deferred in exchange for potential. The future itself becomes compensation.
The anglerfish functions as both predator and ecosystem — a symbol of workplaces that sustain themselves through attraction, optimism, and the constant pursuit of growth, even in conditions where exhaustion, instability, and disposability quietly persist.
Within Under the Surface, the work reflects on the survival traits that emerge inside contemporary professional culture and the unseen emotional adaptations required to endure it.
