In 2018, I was looking for a new creative outlet. I was burnt out after two grueling years of immersive Method Acting training and the subsequent stop-and-start, chain-jerking reality of trying to work as a professional actor in the Bay Area. I wanted to find a new performance art through which to express and discover myself - but this time it would be for fun!

Somehow, that led me to start practicing Muay Thai at a gym in San Francisco, where I was able to learn from two decorated Thai fighters-turned-coaches and their growing lineage of American student-teachers.

During the lockdowns of the Covid-19 Pandemic, my (now outdoor) Muay Thai practice and community took on an even deeper meaning amidst the extreme isolation and hardships of the moment.

As restrictions began to lift, Muay Thai continued to enrich my life in unexpected ways. Practicing this art form - and eventually competing in a few ‘smokers’ - gave me greater self-understanding and confidence, which empowered me to eventually take ownership of my longtime struggle with feelings of gender dysphoria.

In the process of all of this, I wanted to give back. Too inexperienced and old (and probably lazy!) to compete professionally, I thought I might apply my art skills to learn more about and also celebrate the history of this special art form.

So, I began to create illustrations of the iconic Muay Thai fighters that I watched and learned from, and to share this artwork on social media. On a few occasions, I have been able to support some of the depicted fighters or their surviving family members through profits from this work.

Muay Thai Legends is essentially a portrait series. But - for me - it is also a love letter and a ‘Thank You’ note to Muay Thai and the legacies of its most dedicated practitioners.