Fire Followers is a series of new works inspired by the wildflowers that bloom only after wildfire in California—species such as Matilija, Phacelia, Whispering Bells, and Fire Poppy. These plants emerge from ash, reminding us that fire has long been part of the region’s ecological cycle. Their presence also evokes the paradox at the heart of contemporary land stewardship: how can we preserve landscapes when colonization erased the knowledge of those who once cared for them?

Several works in the series focus on the Matilija poppy, a striking white flower with a vivid yellow center, often referred to as the “fried egg” flower. According to Chumash oral history, the Matilija grew from the bodies of a chief’s daughter and her fallen lover—the white petals symbolizing innocence, the golden center their passion. Titles such as Ember Yolk and Torrid Bloom draw directly from this legend, as well as the flower’s unique biology: its seeds require smoke to germinate, transforming destruction into the condition for renewal.

Maddy Inez is a Los Angeles-based artist working in ceramics, printmaking, and installation. Her practice engages the spiritual and medicinal lives of plants, weaving together themes of healing, myth, and the body. Drawing from alchemy, science fiction, and herbal traditions, she creates vessels that reflect the traumas of land and body, challenging colonial narratives and embodying ancestral memory.