Growing up in Emilia Romagna, Italy,

I spent my childhood hiking the Apennine Mountain range. My mother, an avid naturalist, loved to drag me and my two sisters on long hikes across the countryside. We trekked across rolling hills of sunflowers, poppies, and lavender fields, drinking from natural springs and resting under the chestnut trees. In the summer, afternoon storms transformed the sky into a spectacular theater of light and dark. I remember imagining the striped rows of crops swirling and colliding with the river and the sky. Years later, I continue to take inspiration from Italy’s natural beauty to create my circular “portals.” A blend of fantasy and reality, my paintings are meant to transport you into a world of imagination and childlike wonder. I hope that my work brings you joy and comfort in these difficult times.

Emma Whitaker