Xóchitl Flores-Marcial discusses how El Árbol de la Muerte draws from rich Indigenous artistic and ceremonial traditions in regions like Oaxaca and Michoacán. These Trees of Life, often featured in Day of the Dead celebrations, honor the lived experiences of those who passed, even if their lives were marked by hardship. In El Árbol de la Muerte: Maquilando Mujeres, the artwork commemorates women whose life paths were shaped by systemic forces, celebrating their existence while acknowledging the struggles they endured.