Bullet With Butterfly Wings 2025

Aluminum, Steel, Chain

Grief has a way of constraining the mind, binding it in chains of harmful thoughts and self-imposed imprisonment. Bullet With Butterfly Wings is a reflection of that internal battle. It is a physical display of the choice between being controlled by one’s own mind or breaking free.

This sculpture features a dome or brain-like structure composed of silver, iridescent butterflies. They are delicate yet resilient, representing innocence and potential. Winding through the form is a black, rough-textured boa constrictor, made with aluminum and extended by 75 feet of chain, entrapping the butterflies in its grasp. The snake symbolizes the suffocating grip of a mind trapped in destructive thought patterns, holding back what is meant to be free. Behind the central form, eleven butterflies take flight, arranged in the shape of the Aquila constellation, a symbol of strength and liberation.

The piece is interactive and the audience members must physically engage with the sculpture, unraveling the snake’s chain to release the butterflies. This struggle mirrors my own experience of reclaiming my freedom from my mind’s control. For years, I lived within my own mental prison, battling dark thoughts that distorted my reality. I chose to break free, to loosen the chains, and in doing so, I found lightness, joy, and strength.

The title, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, captures the paradox of feeling powerless despite having the potential for liberation. Inspired by The Smashing Pumpkins’ song, the phrase resonates with the idea of being trapped within oneself, like a butterfly caught in steel restraints. 

This sculpture invites viewers to confront their own inner struggles, to question what binds them, and to consider the strength required to break free. The act of unchaining the butterflies is a reminder that freedom is a choice, and the process of achieving it is a vital part of the journey.