Palm Beach has its own kind of vibe, it’s refined but still full of energy, and you can feel how much people genuinely care about art. This year’s Palm Beach Modern & Contemporary show felt especially memorable for me because it marked the first time I shared a completely new direction in my work.

I debuted a series of four abstract pieces inspired by a recent trip to Mexico City. That trip stuck with me in a real way. The city is layered, loud, textured, and constantly shifting. Everywhere you look there’s something happening, from torn street posters stacked on top of each other to graffiti that feels more like a language than decoration. I found myself taking it all in and thinking about how to translate that feeling into my work.

Each piece in the series is named after a different neighborhood that left an impression on me. Instead of trying to paint what those places literally look like, I focused more on capturing their energy. I combined street photography, fragments of posters, graffiti influences, and layers of acrylic and oil paint. The process was instinctive, building and rebuilding until each piece felt like a reflection of those moments I experienced walking through the city.

Bringing these works to Palm Beach and showing them for the first time was a big moment. There’s always a level of uncertainty when you introduce something new, especially when it pushes your style forward. But the reaction throughout the fair made it all worth it.

Collectors, gallery owners, and designers really connected with the work. What meant the most to me was how many people took the time to ask questions and have real conversations. They wanted to understand the layers, the materials, and the story behind each piece. That kind of engagement is what I’m always hoping for. It goes beyond just viewing the work and turns it into a shared experience.

I showed the collection with Denis Leon Gallery, and it was great to have their support throughout the fair. The presentation felt strong and cohesive, and it created a space where people could step in and spend time with the work.

One thing that stood out to me this year was how open people were to work that blends different influences. There’s a growing appreciation for art that pulls from real environments, from travel, and from everyday textures. This series sits right in that space, and seeing how it was received gave me a lot of confidence in where I’m headed.

This collection feels like the start of something bigger. Mexico City left a mark on me, and I know that influence will continue to show up in what I do next. For now, I’m just taking it all in and appreciating the response, the conversations, and the opportunity to share something new.