Heidy Garay’s (b. 1980, Colombia)art practice is rooted in observing and recording nature. These observations take on metaphorical meanings, reflecting her present life and memories tied to her identity—often drawn from familial experiences and inherited stories.

She is instinctively drawn to particular shapes and colors in plants, capturing them in her sketchbook or with her phone camera. At times, images emerge through meditation or upon waking, compelling her to record them. Her paintings begin with a vision but evolve as she works, often transforming into scenes or plant-like entities that echo the human form.

Themes of familial influence, healing from generational trauma, resilience, transcendence, and identity are woven throughout her work. She creates on both paper and canvas, layering patterns and textures to build depth and meaning. Midway through a piece, she often photographs it and experiments with digital layering on her iPad to explore potential directions before completing the painting.