Amy Elkins writes:
“‘Wallflower’ is an exploration into the nuances of gender identity and the male psyche. These works were created out of intrigue regarding masculine identity when stripped of personal context or when facing heightened states of vulnerability. In a reversal of the traditional male gaze, the images confront some of the cultural grounds underlying gender, opting to focus on the beauty, sensitivity, and vulnerabilities found in a sex that has long been held to masculine expectations and stereotypes.
“For each portrait, a confined space was constructed and covered with floral wallpaper or fabric and each subject was asked to sit bare before it. The dynamic between the subject, the floral pattern, and the camera thus creating an intense confrontation, where the use of wallpaper serves to contrast the sitter’s masculinity against something clearly more feminine, forcing both worlds to mix for the lens.”