Kristian Gallagher is the founder of the studio Modern Tropical, established in 2018 during a sabbatical in Hawaii. That same year she won Pottery Barn x Minted's Walls That Wow for "The Happiest Flowers," and her work has since been licensed by major American retailers including Urban Outfitters, Target and Macy's, as well as resort properties from Hawaii to Florida.

She creates eclectic botanical illustrations and abstract landscapes, a body of work known for its whimsical sensibility and vibrant colour.