Struggling

A crushed KFC bucket lies discarded on its side—an object both banal and deeply symbolic. In Struggling, I use this familiar fast-food icon to reflect the quiet, ongoing crisis in rural America. The imagery evokes more than physical decay; it points to economic hardship, corporate dependency, and the diminishing dignity in communities shaped by policies that neglect them.
 
The painting invites viewers to consider how something as ordinary as a takeout container can carry weight as a social marker—standing in for systems of consumption, labor, and abandonment. Struggling isn't just about what's thrown away; it's about who gets left behind.