Our beloved Tokitae. It was my wish to see Tokite free and through my painting of Tokitae, I tried to capture a poignant moment in her life, symbolizing both her resilience and the broader conversation around the ethics of confining such intelligent and socially complex beings.

'Tokitae'
Oils on canvas, 20 x 30 inches.

Tokitae, affectionately known as Lolita, embodied both the majesty of her species and the poignant challenges of captivity. Born in the waters off the coast of Washington State in 1966, she was captured at a young age and transported to the Miami Seaquarium in 1970. There, she became a symbol of the controversial practice of keeping marine mammals in captivity for public entertainment. In her 53 years at the Seaquarium, Lolita's life revolved around a comparatively small tank, where she performed tricks and swam endless circles.

Despite calls for her release and efforts to reunite her with her pod in the wild, Tokitae remained in captivity until her passing. The captivity of orcas, like Tokitae, sparked heated debates about animal welfare, prompting increased scrutiny of marine mammal theme parks.