My Story

I grew up as a Nazarene Christian in the midwest.

Before I was alive enough to understand the concept of a God I was trained to trust that an almighty He had my best interest in mind. From the moment I had eyes to see and a mouth to talk, I was indoctrinated into practicing blind faith; being assured by those who loved me that this was the best possible thing I could do for my soul. At home and at church, ifs, ands or buts were strictly prohibited. I was devout before I could spell the word.

For the next eighteen years of my life I would do, say, and believe truly horrible things in the name of our “merciful lord and savior.” Although it has been over a decade since I left the church, the memories of my righteous villainy have never left me.

I lived a life in which the price for saving my soul was to condemn others’.

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At the age of eighteen, after finishing my first semester at a private Christian college, I was accepted into Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, IN. By this time I was already in the beginning stages of deconstructing my faith, but it wasn’t until I began sharing hallways, painting studios, and lecture halls with many of the types of people I had been trained to look down upon, that I realized my entire life had been a lie.

I officially left the Christian faith at eighteen and started on an artistic journey that would inevitably lead to the creation of Romulus Rose Arts Studio.

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Throughout my life I have had many artistic ventures; from a tattoo apprenticeship to gallery design. Within these explorations I was searching for meaning - for depth. There was something inside of me, some large, artistic voice rooted in a desire to be heard that wanted to speak yet I didn’t know how to discover its metaphorical mouth. And then one day I simply let myself sketch. No thoughts, no ideas, no vision - just letting the pencil sketch what it wanted.

Through that exercise I discovered that there was a large part of myself that had not fully processed my deconstruction. The canvas became my therapy; helping to untangle and explore the emotions that had been buried deep for so long. As I continued down this unexpected path to healing that wounded part of myself, I wondered if my artwork could help others the way it was helping me.

My designs are vibrant, visceral and deeply symbolic. Every color I use, how it is used and even where it is placed all has specific meaning. Each upside down cross is placed with care, symbolizing the liberation from the hurtful doctrine I was once spoon-fed. I create my artwork not only for myself, but for the millions of others who have experienced abuse in the church. Whether you enjoy my artwork simply for its aesthetics, or if you find comfort in its rich symbolism, I hope it encourages your own journey of healing.

You are not alone.

You are valid for leaving the church.