mixed media; 2021

AMYSBABY

That was the license plate on my mother's car in the 80s when NY state allowed for 8 letters.

Going through every single thing my mother owned was a feat. She was a collector. After she died in September 2020, I'd go to her apartment in Hackensack, NJ each week and dive in. Through this process, I got to spend more time with this part of her that I grew up with and maybe internalized––the festive, fearless queen. My mother had quite an eye. Perhaps in another life, she would have been a designer––and I've been wanting to collaborate with and celebrate this.

The first image features a collaboration with my sister, Kira Shalom.

Special thanks to Ara Thorose for crucial styling tweaks.

Huge thanks to Sol Avi Erez for photographing the work and re-touching the images with love and care.