"Pipevine Swallowtail Over Okatibbee" (2026)

WiL Vélez, Pipevine Swallowtail Over Okatibbee, 2026.

stain and acrylic on cradled wood panel

20H x 16W x 1.5D in (40.64 x 50.80 x 3.81 cm) 

Grounding abstraction firmly in place is central to Winged Rivers. In this work focus turns to the Okatibbee River near Meridian, Mississippi, particularly the point where it branches into Sowashee and Gallagher Creeks—natural boundaries that have quietly shaped the city’s southern and western edges. These waterways function both as geographic markers and as living systems that influence regional identity.

This river system is paired with the wing structure of the Pipevine Swallowtail, a visually striking butterfly native to the area. River and insect operate as parallel forces: both essential, both often overlooked, and both foundational to the ecosystems they support.

This is a unique, original artwork. Its image, like all images on this website, is the copyright of ©️WiL Vélez. All rights reserved.