Original painting
Acrylic on Canvas. 14” x 18”

Nainai is the Mandarin word for a paternal grandmother, but to me, it holds two stories. I have two Nainais: one who gave birth to my father and another who adopted him. Both women carry extraordinary stories of love, sacrifice, and endurance, shaped by the homes they left behind and the lives they built along the way. The green bubbles represent the different homes and landscapes they came from, the places they left behind, and the new places they learned to call home. The yellow path traces the roads they traveled, honoring the uncertainty, resilience, and courage it takes to begin again. Through this painting, I hope to celebrate both women and the journeys that brought them into my life, recognizing that family is shaped not only by where we come from, but also by the love we choose to give and the homes we create along the way.