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Backyard no. 515, 2026

Watercolor on paper

22.5 x 22.5 in.

FMV: $3,075.00

"By magnifying that which is small and temporary in nature - flowers and moths from my garden become poignant reminders of the transience of life. Throughout history flowers have represented fertility and birth while moths have been associated with death and decay. So I combine flowers and moths to suggest the interconnectedness and fragility of life where birth, aging and death are intertwined and nothing remains constant."

Ellen Little is a San Francisco-based artist known for her large-scale watercolor paintings that explore the fleeting beauty of the natural world. Originally from Los Angeles, she studied at Art Center College of Design before working in advertising and teaching in New York, then founding a graphic design firm after relocating to San Francisco. Since 2009, she has focused on painting, developing a distinctive practice that magnifies flowers and moths to reflect on themes of transience, fragility, and the interconnected cycles of life. Her work has been widely exhibited and collected by both private and public institutions, and she is also the founder of Dogpatch Collective, a vibrant community of artist studios in San Francisco.

Frame courtesy of Eric Rose Art Services