Palette of Petals — My First Art Exhibition

I never imagined seeing my name on the wall of an art gallery, let alone having the opportunity to transform a public space with nature as my medium.

This building is truly unique. Once a historic restaurant and hotel from the 1920s, it features an iconic horseshoe-shaped bar that once served Hollywood legends like Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and John Wayne.

Understandably, there was some anxiety about the future of such an iconic landmark in our city. Watching the new owners of The Clove Art Complex and Café Motif bring their vision of art, community, and culture to downtown—while preserving the building's rich history—has been nothing short of inspiring. Thank you for trusting me with this important project.

This endeavor required over 150 hours and many late nights, so I’d like to express my gratitude to those who supported me along the way. Jason, my husband, thank you for shuttling me around on the scaffold until the early hours, hauling flowers, installing vinyl, and just being an incredibly supportive partner. Huge thanks to Joey (@chokotattoos) for enduring the grid installation (I know it was a challenge), and to my kids for hanging out in the construction zone well past bedtime. I’m grateful to @rebeccalouiselaw for the inspiration, and to my friend, Luciana, for gathering flowers and supporting me in countless ways. And to everyone who cheered me on, both online and in real life—thank you! A stranger at the grand opening even mentioned that “the ghost” there appreciates my art, so maybe we’ve done a good job preserving history after all. 

Locals, be sure to visit @thecloveartcomplex_95020. I promise the photos don’t do it justice, and there’s more incredible art to explore at @1202_contemporary. You can also shop my prints and cards in the retail section. And don’t miss the gouda grilled cheese—it’s the best at @cafe_motif_95020!

Click here to watch my entire process of this installation.