In my soft sculptures, I depict fantastical creatures that have been caught and mounted for display. Each figure is presented as one would hunting game: tied down or contained. The viewer encounters bodies made of fabric, yarn, beads, and found materials, their beauty preserved while their autonomy is stripped away. I construct each creature by hand, using whatever materials are available to me. Every stitch and bead is added with care, building intricate surfaces that invite close attention. Once complete, the creature experiences a brief freedom before I design its vessel of display. I then mount, label, and hang it, transforming it from living form to specimen.

These creatures represent queer minorities admired for their beauty yet often denied respect and support. Their various forms of containment echo how queer identity can be collected, displayed, and consumed. Through this work, I aim to invite the viewer into the tension between fascination and exploitation, encouraging recognition of how beauty can become a cage. Each mounted body and patterned surface asks who benefits from the capture of wonder?