River Arwood was initially inspired by the dreamlike set design in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947). Many movies made during the Golden Age of Cinema were filmed on sprawling industrial sound stages with theatrical staging and sets. Arwood likes to explore the artifice and lack of realism in these films. Simple structures pull you in and evoke an environment, yet even as you're transported, you're aware of the pageantry.

Arwood has been enamored with the idea of being able to create your own space, building your own sense of safety and sanctuary through whatever means are available to you. In Sanctuary, they selected stills for reference from films that evoke this sense of escapism for them.

River Arwood is a Georgia-born queer, multidisciplinary artist with a focus on oil painting and the performing arts. Arwood’s work over the last decade, as both a visual artist and a drag performer, has been featured in publications and exhibitions across the Southern states. Their paintings often explore themes of connection, identity, and gender through a close-up, vibrant lens.