The themes I tend to gravitate towards in my art have always been emotion, introspection, and growth. These are all parts of life that have always fascinated me as a neurodivergent person. The Woods that Healed Me is a direct product of that interest and is an experiment in introspective storytelling. The stories told here revolve around a pantheon of spirits that represent different aspects of life as I have lived them, and all of them embody something that I have felt or personally encountered. These characters and their stories all live in a world of my creation named Thera, where their paths and personalities intertwine with the lore of the world in which they reside. As the title suggests, I am working with the theme of finding peace within the places that seem scary or unknown to you, like within a deep and foreboding forest. Each of these stories, in their own way, represent struggles or emotions I have had to face within my life and overcome, and in sharing these stories my hope is that others will find healing in them too.

For the full exhibition, including short stories, character bios, and world lore please visit akexhibition.carrd.co