Coldest Winter
In Coldest Winter, Troy Hul Arnold reflects on the visceral memory of his first winter in New York City—a stark contrast to the warmth of his Caribbean homeland. The painting captures the bewilderment and vulnerability of this formative experience, shared with his siblings, as they encountered snow and frigid air for the first time. The figures, bundled in layers, wear expressions that convey both awe and discomfort, translating the physical cold into an emotional landscape of cultural dislocation and adaptation.

The composition bears a quiet homage to The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, a beloved childhood book that profoundly influenced Arnold. Much like Keats’ work, Coldest Winter balances simplicity with emotional depth, anchoring the viewer in a moment that is both personal and universal—a child's encounter with the unfamiliar, beautifully frozen in time.