Flowers of the Grave: Honoring My Mother Through Art and Heritage
"Flowers of the Grave" is a deeply personal series honoring my late mother’s memory and her love of flowers, combined with my Hungarian heritage and inspiration from Día de los Muertos. While Día de los Muertos is traditionally a Mexican celebration of life and death, I have been profoundly influenced by it, growing up in Southern California surrounded by vibrant Mexican communities from Michoacán. This community is close to my heart, and I’ve even married into it—my partner is from Michoacán, and we have a child together.
As a white, Hungarian-American artist, I strive to approach to Day of the Dead themes with mindfulness. My connection doesn’t automatically grant me permission to engage with these cultural symbols, but I strive to honor and respectfully represent the traditions that inspire me. By maintaining connections, supporting the community, and deeply listening, I seek to give back to those whose culture I have been fortunate to experience.
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Exploring "Flowers of the Grave" Through Floral Symbols
This four-part self-portrait series memorializes my mother through her favorite flowers and the jewelry she left me. In each piece, I’ve merged Hungarian folk patterns with Day of the Dead halo designs to explore themes of remembrance, identity, and love. Each portrait combines face paint, illustration, photography, curated wardrobe, handmade headdresses, and digital painting, all of it done by me. Here’s a closer look at the flowers in the series and what they represent:
Sunflower: The Joy-Bringer 🌻
The sunflower represents warmth and joy. Hungary is famous for it's fields of sunflowers, and driving past them or walking next to them in full bloom is an unforgettable experience. With shades of auburn, yellow, rose gold, vermillion, copper, and cream on this print, this flower honors my mother’s spirit, adorned with rich pearls to reflect her royal, vibrant nature.
Rose: The Classic Beauty 🌹
One of my mother’s favorite flowers, the rose embodies her passion and elegance. Adorned in shades of ruby, pomegranate, and velvet red with accents of blush pink and marigold, this portrait represents a powerful and inspiring essence. The rose painted over the heart represents connecting with the divine muse.
Dahlia: The Catrina 💜
The Dahlia is the grand figure in this series—a regal, commanding presence with shades of purple, plum, and berry. Originally, I created a mournful pose for this portrait, but as the series evolved, Dahlia became the keystone piece, representing strength and leadership.
Tulip: Thoughtful and Mournful 🌷
Tulip has a thoughtful and reserved nature, and she has warmth and love for family traditions. Shades of cobalt, violet, lapis, and emerald reflect her serene spirit. The shawl in the image represents my mother’s tradition of gifting these specific shawls to everyone each Christmas.
Bringing "Flowers of the Grave" to Life: Metallic Foil Prints
Each portrait is available as a print in two styles: Metallic Foil Prints and Matte Prints. Whether you prefer the shimmer of metallic foil or the softness of matte, there’s an option to suit any collection.
Metallic Foil Prints ✨
Each metallic print is embellished with rose gold foil on soft-touch lamination, giving the art a luxurious and reflective finish. Available individually or as a set of four (the "Bouquet"), they are sized at 8"x10".
Details:
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Matte Prints 🖼️
For those who prefer a non-reflective finish, the matte prints capture the beauty of the original artwork with rich, velvety colors. These are print-on-demand and come in a variety of sizes: 9"x11", 11"x14", and 14"x18". They’re perfect for a more understated look and make wonderful wall posters.
Details:
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Greeting Cards
Also available is a pack of greeting cards with all 4 prints plus a 5th. With blank interiors, these cards provide you with the canvas to convey your sentiments in a way that feels uniquely personal. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply reaching out to a loved one, Flowers Of The Grave Greeting Cards adds a touch of heart to every message. Please note while the cover is silky gloss, the foil is not metallic.
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Special Offer for Patrons 🎉
If you’re a Patron of $1 or more, you can enjoy 15% off both the metallic foil and matte prints! Make sure you make an account on my shop after you become a Patron. Check out other items you can get 15% off on in this section of my store.
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Thank you for taking the time to learn about "Flowers of the Grave" and its significance in my journey as an artist. This series is my way of honoring my mother, my family, and the multicultural world that shaped me.