About the Piece

Finding the First Breath is a visual meditation on growth, freedom, and the power of intentional change. Created through a layered mix of collage, illustration, and elements from an earlier piece titled Finding Freedom, this work invites viewers to consider the first step—the first breath—required to evolve.

Words and imagery representing transformation are interwoven throughout: a cowboy evoking independence and grit; mitosis reflecting cellular regeneration and growth; wildflowers pushing through soil as symbols of quiet resilience; and diagrams of the respiratory system grounding the metaphor in something visceral and essential. Evolution is not a singular moment—it’s a series of choices, each one as vital and instinctive as the act of breathing.

The work’s central idea is that breath is both literal and symbolic: we breathe to live, and we breathe to begin again. By inhaling new perspectives and exhaling old fears, we move toward a version of ourselves that is fuller, freer, and more in tune with our own growth.

Exhibition History

Exhibited in Connections: Senior Exhibition, Northern State University, Spring 2023.

Exhibited in Midwest Salon, hosted by Midwest Nice Art, January 2024