A young Suri girl of Ethiopia's Omo Valley stands in an adornment woven from wildflower blooms. Each bloom, fleeting in its beauty, reflects a deep and enduring relationship with place. As she walks in her traditional garb and upholds her cultural traditions, she also represents a transformation; she embodies a culture that remains strong across generations. The flowers will fade, but the connection they represent, between people, land, and memory, endures far beyond their brief season.

Cristina Mittermeier is a Mexican-born fine art photographer, marine biologist and conservationist renowned for her evocative images that explore the intersection of nature, culture and human connection. A Sony Artisan of Imagery who aligns with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, she is a two-time Emmy Award recipient for her photographic work on The Last Ice and Photographer, both on National Geographic/Disney+. Mittermeier is the founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers and co-founder of SeaLegacy. Her photographs have been exhibited at major art fairs and museums worldwide and are held in prominent private and institutional collections. She was named Artist of the Year by the Intersect Art and Design Fair in 2025.