Based on the life and death of the artists father, The Last Words of Joseph consist of six portraits, completed in 2016, drawn from images of Joseph Rodick, from early childhood to death. Embedded in each image—save for the last—are a few words of text written in Joseph’s shaking hand as he lay dying and unable to speak—a man’s last words. They read

I am not ready to go

Did I fall?

who can be trusted?

it’s all over

I wanted to see

artist statement