What do you do?

 Lady Henze Artist Statement 

“You can only express in words what words are capable of expressing—what language can communicate. Painting has nothing to do with that. Art is the highest form of hope. It makes no sense to expect or claim to 'make the invisible visible,' or the unknown known, or the unthinkable thinkable.” -Gerhart Richter 

For years, I have struggled to convey how much San Francisco means to me. It borders on embarrassing; I love it as much as I have ever loved anything or anyone. To me, it feels like a living, breathing organism. Describing my life before arriving here feels tricky, as I often refer to it as “in the black.” I was incredibly unwell, both mentally and physically. I was battling alcoholic dementia, and my addiction severely impacted my ability to think, reason, and interact socially. Just before I got sober, I was unable to walk unassisted, suffered from seizures, and was in liver failure. I couldn't make eye contact with anyone and struggled to show up for work. Isolated and flat broke, I was homeless and desperate, wanting to die. 

I got sober on June 7, 2014, and I didn’t go through it alone. As it turns out, there had always been a supportive community around me; I just needed to engage with it. A series of miracles, often beyond my ability to articulate, helped me regain my footing. As I began to reclaim my sanity and health, I could lift my head and experience the magic of the City. I felt as though my life truly began at that turning point. I soaked in the street art, patterned tiles, graffiti, neon signs, hand-painted storefronts, scenic vistas, and grand architecture surrounding me. I began to appreciate all the small moments that make San Francisco a living, breathing tapestry, and this body of work is intended to share that appreciation with you 

I was inspired by imagery of a future San Francisco in the book “Virtual Light” by William Gibson, where people had transformed the bridges, building them up vertically as the City became increasingly expensive. This idea resonated deeply, and I began this series with living bridge paintings. I then focused on my favorite aspects of the City: old signs, decaying building facades adorned with graffiti, peeling paint revealing layers of history, and overgrown foliage. This series marks the first time I have ever painted figuratively. I have distilled photo references and my own memories and perceptions into this body of work, leveraging different techniques I have studied to bring these future landscapes to life. 

Part of the joy in this series was playing with various mediums to achieve the different surface textures, like concrete and rotting wood, covered with lichen, moss, and vines, or the fog-laden marine layer. Second and third passes with ink, acrylic, and spray paint suggest light sources like boats, neon signs, and street lights. The final layers depict bridges, neighborhoods, or close-ups of textures and foliage, creating an overall unfocused effect through layers of fog, light pollution, and motion. These serve as a diary of those who came before me and illustrate the ongoing interplay between nature and humanity, an invitation for you to share the magic and beauty of San Francisco.

The imagined future of San Francisco in my art is neither utopian nor dystopian; it embodies the resilience of its people in the face of change, preserving our best qualities by repurposing the old. I don’t paint about pain, darkness, or hopelessness for a reason. I almost died here, but instead, I was given a second chance, along with a significant shift in perspective. I choose to focus on the kindness, the light, and the little moments that define the City (and the people) who saved me.