For Spendaporium’s October show themed “Tarot,” I
exhibited six hand-painted tiles as part of my ongoing tarot
deck project. My deep connection to tarot in my artistic
practice inspired me to create my own deck, channeling
divine feminine rage into each piece. This project is a
response to the often-overlooked contributions of Pamela
Colman Smith, the artist behind the widely known yet
misnamed “Rider-Waite” deck. Smith’s visionary work is
rarely credited, though her illustrations have shaped the visual language of tarot for over a century. My representation of queer and trans bodies within the deck is part of an ongoing exploration of narrative, creating space for marginalized identities in this powerful, symbolic tradition. Through my deck, I seek to honor Smith’s legacy while expressing my own evolving story.