Tommy Lei - Snow Cows
Snow Cows is a photographic series by Pasadena-based artist Tommy Lei that explores resilience, sanctuary, and belonging. Created at Hickory Hearth Highlands, a family-run farm sanctuary, the work centers on three Highland cows — Ollie, Libby, and Opal — each rescued after histories of abandonment.
For Lei, the project is deeply personal. His father was adopted in the 1950s after being left behind, and these portraits mirror that story of survival and dignity reclaimed. Set against the stillness of winter, the cows appear both fragile and strong, inviting reflection on how sanctuary transforms trauma into grace.
Presented as limited-edition archival prints, Snow Cows offers collectors and audiences a meditative encounter with memory, care, and belonging — across species, landscapes, and histories.
