Mandy Arroyo - In the Wake of Winter

This collection is a little bit memory, and a little bit dream. Initially inspired by a late summer backpacking trip in Eastern Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains in 2024, I painted all of these pieces as winter turned to spring in 2025. I was looking back on photos I’d taken in the backcountry, and dreaming of warmer, softer days to come. Late summer is such a special, nostalgic time of year to me - that fleeting moment after the snow has melted in the mountains and lush meadows come alive with what feels like an impossible number of wildflowers. In this collection, I focused on capturing the vibrancy of life flourishing in this alpine environment, celebrating the resilience and beauty that thrives through extreme seasons. I hope these pieces serve as a reminder to pause and notice the moments when we’re thriving, and have patience when it is not our season to bloom.