My art practice has naturally become a survival tool. It is my vehicle for coping with loss, grief, and fear of the unknown. When words are not enough, it is a platform for my inner voice and personal expression. As the foreboding persistence of mortality weighs heavier each passing day, I lean on my creative outlet for comfort and aid as I navigate this complex world. I’m endlessly fascinated by flora and fauna, planetary systems, and the theory of parallel universes.

Utilizing traditional painting techniques and sculpture, I explore visual contrast by merging organic forms and soft color palettes with imagery hinging on the grotesque. My work confronts unsettling emotions and the mysteries of human existence, using figurative and surreal references as metaphors for subject matter that may be considered taboo. Through my art, I aim to transport the audience to an unexpected and intangible place, where curiosity and introspection are piqued. 

Born in Los Angeles to Chinese immigrants, I have lived in the Bay Area since I was two and am currently based in Oakland, California. My work has been featured at the de Young and SFMOMA museum stores in San Francisco, under the name TIMMY MAYS.