Derek Abella is a Cuban-American illustrator and artist based in New York City who creates dream-like work for clients all over the world, big and small. His images have supported publications and brands such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Google. He is a graduate of the Pratt Institute.

For this trio of pieces, I decided to tap into the themes of community and nature. Even though we as a species challenge, reckon with, and even at times harm nature, we are still part of one big ecosystem just like all other living things. I wanted these pieces to represent building and nurturing a garden to show how powerful and beautiful it can be for all of humanity to come together. The colors and lighting I chose were meant to evoke joy and hope. Even when the world seems dull and dire, I think it’s nice to have a reminder that there is always room for us to grow, change, and support one another through recognizing that we are living one broad and shared experience.