I had the honor of collaborating with Huellas Tilcajete in Oaxaca on a mural that's stayed with me ever since.

This piece was created to honor the matriarch of the home, Francisca, and the family she has raised within its walls. Alongside her portrait, I painted a flower in full bloom — a reflection of her deep love of flowers, and a way to capture the lasting beauty she carries, both within herself and in the family she's built.

Each day, as I painted, Francisca sat outside with her family, watching — though she couldn't see what was taking shape. We kept it a secret until the very end.

When the mural was finally unveiled, she cried. She told us her health wouldn't allow her to be with her son much longer, but that now, through this mural, she would always remain with her family.

Projects like this are why I do this work.