“Position of Honor” is the culmination of a lifelong exploration into identity, citizenship, and the complex interplay of personal and cultural values. This large-scale work, with its reversed American flag as its centerpiece, invites viewers into an intimate dialogue with the artist’s evolving understanding of what it means to be an American, a worker, a creator, and a participant in the grand experiment of democracy.

At first glance, the reversed flag may strike some as provocative, but its meaning is far from a statement of protest. Instead, the reversed flag mirrors its placement on the uniforms of American soldiers, known as the “position of honor.” This detail is often unnoticed or misunderstood, much like the subtle dynamics of identity, responsibility, and stewardship that the painting aims to explore. For the artist, the flag symbolizes both a connection to their fellow citizens and a challenge to reflect on the America we are collectively shaping. “I hope viewers don’t overreact to the reversed flag,” the artist explains. “It’s not meant to be provocative in the way an upside-down flag is. It’s an unexpected feature—just as it is when people notice it like this on a uniform. I want the American viewer to know I identify with them, and maybe ask: Is this the America we designed or is it going along in a way that no longer makes sense? Are we using the tools of democracy as our founders trusted that we would? We cannot abdicate our stewardship as citizens.”

The journey of “Position of Honor” began in 1995, during the artist’s first steps into the business world after earning a painting degree at Virginia Commonwealth University. While establishing OliveTree Studios, an art and internet design business in Richmond, Virginia, the painting emerged as an abstract experiment, with large, generic forms and a dominant green palette. At the time, the artist was navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and grappling with the complexities of capitalism, competition, and collaboration.

Over the years, the painting evolved in tandem with the artist’s life and career. A second phase introduced a grid of squares and rectangles, layering vibrant and pastel colors in washes upon washes, creating textures that spoke to new ideas and discoveries. “I paint slowly, letting the work hang in my home, where I see it every day,” the artist shares. “I make deliberate choices about each step, but when I paint, I let the paint go free. I don’t hold back. I look for every way to let it do something unexpected and magical.”

Natural weathering also played a role, desaturating some areas of the painting and lending it a patina of experience. By embracing layers that leave earlier phases visible, the artist reflects a belief that past learnings, ideas, and even mistakes are essential to growth.

The final phase of the painting emerged as the artist’s reflections turned inward, inspired in part by a close friendship that had diverged onto a different path. The title, “Position of Honor,” carries a personal resonance that the artist prefers to keep somewhat private but connects to the broader themes of responsibility and identity. “While we once walked in lockstep in the same place and time, danger and opportunities calling us, we went very different ways.” But there is a personal and universal question here for all Americans.

As the reversed American flag came into focus, so too did the painting’s ultimate purpose: to reflect the artist’s lifetime of questions about what it means to be part of a nation, a community, and a family of workers, creators, and thinkers. It asks the viewer to consider: Are we honoring the legacy of those who designed the tools of democracy? Are we rising to the challenge of shaping a better America?