The Birds Collection has been a wellspring of fascination for Iris. In her studio, she is joined by Baby—a raucous citron cockatoo rescued from a garage sale—whose mischievous presence adds humor, vitality, and a spark of unpredictability to each day of painting. Across centuries, wings have stirred the imagination of master painters, a living metaphor for freedom and transcendence, and birds remain among Iris’s most beloved muses.