Loneliness Looks Prettier in California, 2026
MATERIALS
ACRYLIC, WAX, RESIN, KEN 
OHARA PHOTOGRAPH, ABALONE 
SHELLS, GLUE, HANDWRITTEN 
LETTER, SYNTHETIC JELLY 
& MARMALADE

DIMENSIONS

VARIABLE

Text:

“I’m back in the Midwest, where the depression feels inescapable... like it’s not something you overcome, just something you get used to. 10 years born and raised here. 10 years coming of age in Southern California. I always feel most Californian when I’m back here... Wisconsin... Loneliness feels real here. I long for California. Even when I was sad and alone there, it felt better. It felt like I was in the movies... like the sadness made sense and it was beautiful. I guess Loneliness looks prettier in California.”