I always had trouble distinguishing what is and what is not art. Art has no rules or limitations, and yet some still categorize what is and is not art. I believed myself to be a bad artist for so long, but once I expanded my perception of art, I realized it can’t even be categorized as “good” or “bad.”

My art begins with the human body. Growing up a dancer, my art was my body. I now focus much of my art on the human body, especially the face.

A photography teacher of mine named Margot Davis once said, “My life’s journey has been with a camera and an eye for the beauty of the landscape of a face.” I am venturing through the landscape of the face, the landscape of the body. Every human I get to capture is an amalgamation of generations of love. Every face I see is a piece of history, carrying their ancestor's down-curved noses and sunken brown eyes.

And yet, each of these faces can find something they would like to be different. Insistent reflections give us too much time to think we are anything but beautiful. Our faces tell our story. Kind moments etched into each smile line, hard work in each forehead wrinkle. That is beautiful.

Art tells a story. Art is beauty and art is uncomfort, so art is everything that surrounds us, it is up to the observer to find the beauty in it. I am able to express my creative mind through writing, photography, drawing, and dance. I am also able to express this mind by stepping outside and taking in the art that surrounds me everyday. I see the story in every tree, building, article of clothing, and I think that is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Keira Ahlborn