Memories in Bloom: Opening

"Memories in Bloom" is a collection of oil paintings by Mikaela Perry portraying farm animals overlaid with flowers, representing both a eulogy and a celebration of life for the animals and the farm that shaped her as an artist. Each painting tells a story of life and death, growth and decay, and the beauty that can be found in both. Inspired by the loss of her family's farm, this collection represents her experiences as the last generation in her family to steward land. Though she never owned her family’s farm, the land still occupies every corner of her mind and heart. These paintings are her way of creating a tangible recording of this experience. Through this collection, she honors the traditions and values that have been passed down through her family for generations, and invites those who may be multiple generations removed from agriculture and farming to also reflect on their own cultural ties and relationships with animals, plants, and the land.