A blend of “Barb” and “metropolis,” Barbtropolis is my own little world — home to the characters that have been living quietly in my imagination for as long as I can remember.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it began. In some ways, it’s always been there. In others, it arrived in a moment when different parts of my life finally wove themselves together, full circle. Perhaps it began at my lowest point, when the need to create became stronger than anything else.

Part of it was about finding my way back to the child I once was.
Part of it was about regaining balance and returning to myself.
Part of it was about stepping away — unlearning everything I had been taught and loosening my grip on all the rules.

After years of following every guideline, I realized I was better off letting them go. Life, and art, shouldn’t feel mechanical. They should feel open, alive, and liberating. That’s what I feel when I create these works. Here, there are no rules — only instinct, presence, and the freedom to see where each moment leads.

It’s taken me a long time to rediscover the little girl in me. I’m grateful I finally did.