The ceramic self-portrait Weeping Willow | Tangled Roots is a deeply personal and evocative exploration of my identity, heritage, and the complexities of growing up multiracial. I deliberately choose to use rough textures on the surface to convey the ambiguity and fluidity of my self perception, prioritizing the essence of movement and its ability to persuade the mood. Through the use of motion, I highlights the complexities and nuances of identity, illustrating the impact of experience in shaping who we become. The tension between internal identity and societal perception is expressed through the rawness of the form. Hair is used as a recurring theme in the artist’s work, symbolizing the struggles she faced as a child learning to care for it on her own. This motif deepens the connection to nature, with hair representing both heritage and confidence. The artist’s affinity for natural materials imbues her work with greater significance, drawing connections between the forward growth of identity and the retrospective complexities of cultural identity. Tangled Roots dissects the challenges the artist faced in uncovering her heritage, navigating a world that feels disconnected from the environment and traditions of her predecessors. Through this exploration, the artist portrays the difficulties of reconciling her modern-day experiences with the inherited knowledge of those who came before her.