Art in Bloom 2026

Floral Interpretations by Darwin Lee

In 2026, I had the honor of participating in Art in Bloom at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) for my second year. Each floral piece was created in response to a work of art in the museum’s collection, using flowers, foliage, color, texture, and form to explore the feeling and story within the original artwork.

Ganymede and the Eagle

Bertel Thorvaldsen | Gallery 307

For my individual interpretation, I was inspired by Thorvaldsen’s Ganymede and the Eagle. The sculpture captures the innocence and beauty of youth, while beneath that tenderness lies a darker story—the abduction of Ganymede by Zeus.

I wanted my floral interpretation to hold both sides of the story: the softness and vulnerability of youth alongside the strength and uncertainty of what is about to unfold. The flowers suggest innocence and beauty, while the darker elements create a feeling of approaching danger and transformation.

Japanese Meiji Vase

Japanese decorative arts | Minneapolis Institute of Art

My second interpretation was inspired by one of the museum’s exquisite Japanese Meiji-period vases. Rather than simply recreating the vase in flowers, I looked to its intricate decoration, movement, and relationship between nature and craftsmanship.

The arrangement became an exploration of the delicate balance between the natural world and the careful artistry of the vase. Flowers and branches echo the organic forms and intricate details found in Japanese decorative art, allowing the floral design to become an extension of the vessel itself.

Art Through Flowers

For me, the joy of Art in Bloom is the opportunity to look closely at a work of art and ask, What does this make me feel? Flowers become another language—one that can express beauty, innocence, strength, movement, and even sadness.

These pieces are my interpretations of the artwork, translated through the ever-changing language of flowers.