“Birds of America” is a collection full of contradictions. Inspired by the discipline of artistic ice skating—a sport where the beauty and perfection of movements coexist with the harsh and unsettling physical toll that professional skaters endure throughout their lives.

The aesthetic can be kitsch and even tacky, emphasizing body shapes and muscles that are sometimes deformed by physical wear and tear.

It captures the beauty of movements that evoke the delicate flight of a bird, set against the backdrop of intense competition and physical exhaustion.