My artistic process is aligned with two of my core values – creativity and authenticity.
Creativity is joy, play, and enchantment, and in its pure form, it exists in opposition to productivity and capitalism, because its value is not determined by the monetary value society attaches to it. Creativity does not mean making art is always enjoyable, but it means that the experience should be meaningful and memorable in itself.
I consider authenticity to be creative expression that stays true to my lived experience, my neurodivergent brain, and my unique voice. It means saying what I want to say in a particular moment, and also saying it in the way I find most interesting, expressive, resonant, and/or provocative. Staying authentic does not mean never taking feedback, but it means saying no to feedback that would make my art less reflective of who I am.
I create art under my pen name Lyra McMahon (she/her), and I work as a public health data analyst and storyteller under my name, Dielle Lundberg.