STORIES BEHIND THE ART

Follow my travels, artistic discoveries, reflections on nature, and updates from the studio. Along the way, I'll share the experiences, people, and places that inspire my work, as well as announcements about new collections, exhibitions, and events.

STUDIO JOURNAL

Strangers for a Little While

Strangers for a Little While

Teresa Mandala

I’ve been thinking lately about how easily we can move through the world without really seeing the people around us. We pass one another in grocery stores, sit beside each...

Strangers for a Little While

Teresa Mandala

I’ve been thinking lately about how easily we can move through the world without really seeing the people around us. We pass one another in grocery stores, sit beside each...

What Panama's Water Is Teaching Me

What Panama's Water Is Teaching Me

Teresa Mandala

I've noticed that my creative life moves through seasons. There are seasons when I'm drawn outward, wanting to explore people, places, customs, and landscapes. And there are seasons when the...

What Panama's Water Is Teaching Me

Teresa Mandala

I've noticed that my creative life moves through seasons. There are seasons when I'm drawn outward, wanting to explore people, places, customs, and landscapes. And there are seasons when the...

The Moth That Wouldn't Leave

The Moth That Wouldn't Leave

Teresa Mandala

One morning as I stepped out of my apartment, something on the floor stopped me in my tracks. Spread across the tile just outside my door was one of the...

The Moth That Wouldn't Leave

Teresa Mandala

One morning as I stepped out of my apartment, something on the floor stopped me in my tracks. Spread across the tile just outside my door was one of the...

The Joy of Paying Attention

The Joy of Paying Attention

Teresa Mandala

A day exploring El Valle de Antón became a reminder that the most meaningful experiences often come from slowing down, paying attention, and allowing curiosity to lead the way.

The Joy of Paying Attention

Teresa Mandala

A day exploring El Valle de Antón became a reminder that the most meaningful experiences often come from slowing down, paying attention, and allowing curiosity to lead the way.

Meeting One Another Halfway

Meeting One Another Halfway

Teresa Mandala

Since arriving in Panama, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to create community. From the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen celebration along the coast to the unexpected connections...

Meeting One Another Halfway

Teresa Mandala

Since arriving in Panama, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to create community. From the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen celebration along the coast to the unexpected connections...

The Weight We Carry Together

The Weight We Carry Together

Teresa Mandala

Sometimes a community carries a weight that no one should have to bear alone. This past Friday, two brothers from a Panamanian family lost their lives in the Pacific Ocean...

The Weight We Carry Together

Teresa Mandala

Sometimes a community carries a weight that no one should have to bear alone. This past Friday, two brothers from a Panamanian family lost their lives in the Pacific Ocean...