I am an interdisciplinary artist based in Northern California with roots in Southeast Texas, where I spent most of my life.
Growing up and working in environments shaped by narrow, even toxic definitions of masculinity and femininity, I witnessed the resentment, the constant misunderstanding, shame and blame those roles can create.
That experience sparked a deep inquiry into the origins of gender roles, leading me to explore everything from mythology and religion to the social and cultural narratives that shape how we understand ourselves today.
Through painting and mixed media, my work is an exploration of the masculine and feminine archetypal energies that exist within all of us.
I examine the stories we inherit about gender and the way those stories influence our relationships, our identities and our human sense of belonging.
While the differences between them have long been framed as a source of conflict, I am less interested in taking sides than in understanding how these energies coexist.
With the use of color, layered textures, symbolic geometry and the occasional iconic figure, my work strives to articulate these differences visually with an awareness of how they can strengthen one another through contrast.

Close-up of a woman with curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles, smiling softly, wearing a brown and white checkered top with a white trim and a necklace with a butterfly and lotus pendant, outdoors near a glass door.
Abstract artwork with pink, orange, and red shapes, featuring a large circle and smaller rectangular sections outlined in black with hints of blue and green.

Collections

Children connecting helium balloons shaped like continents, forming a large globe, with a sky background.
Various decorative wooden and ceramic objects displayed on a wooden surface, including a large white shell-like piece, a white textured ceramic piece, and an abstract wooden sculpture with natural, flowing shapes. Background includes black supportive columns and some plants.
Fashion doll with long blonde hair, pink and black clothing, pink and green high heels, posed with arms and legs outstretched, resting on a black surface with a textured orange item behind it.
Abstract artwork with a side profile of a human face, adorned with curly hair, a closed eye, and a hand resting near the face. The artwork features pastel colors like blue, purple, and hints of yellow, with intricate swirling patterns.
People gathered around a table displaying various items at an art or craft show, with artwork on the walls in the background.

“Vaughan explores the tension between control and surrender, aiming to awaken in the viewer an ancient, quiet, yet latent emotion.” — ArtRKL