New York Florist Showcases Floral Arrangements Inspired by Love Letters

POPUPFLORIST's annual Love Letter Gallery featured unique bloom-filled installations based on anonymous submissions from New Yorkers.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In a unique floral exhibit, New York-based design studio POPUPFLORIST recently showcased creative arrangements inspired by anonymous love letters submitted by local residents. The one-day public event, held on February 7th, featured 30 selected letters paired with custom floral installations that visually represented the sentiments expressed in each note.

Why it matters

The Love Letter Gallery highlights the intersection of heartfelt personal expression and artistic floral design, providing a special Valentine's Day experience that connects the local community. The exhibit also promotes POPUPFLORIST's mission to create unique, meaningful floral arrangements that tell a story.

The details

POPUPFLORIST founder Kelsie Hayes and her team placed red mailboxes at over a dozen businesses across New York City in January, inviting shoppers to pen and submit anonymous love letters. From the more than 1,000 letters received, 30 were selected to be paired with custom floral installations. Each arrangement was designed to visually represent the sentiment expressed in its corresponding letter, featuring a diverse array of blooms like orchids, tulips, lilies, and more.

  • The Love Letter Gallery exhibit was open to the public on February 7, 2026.
  • A private preview event was held on February 6, 2026, in partnership with Simon G. jewelry.

The players

POPUPFLORIST

A New York-based floral design studio that hosted the Love Letter Gallery exhibit.

Kelsie Hayes

The founder of POPUPFLORIST who curated the Love Letter Gallery and designed the floral arrangements.

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What they’re saying

“I love long and heartfelt or short and sweet. Letters with a personal story are particularly interesting to me because it gives a quick snippet into a stranger's life.”

— Kelsie Hayes, Founder, POPUPFLORIST

“Sourcing letters from New Yorkers with no prompts tied the event to the city that I love and made designing the installations more special.”

— Kelsie Hayes, Founder, POPUPFLORIST

What’s next

POPUPFLORIST plans to continue the Love Letter Gallery as an annual Valentine's Day tradition, inviting more New Yorkers to share their heartfelt messages and inspiring the studio's floral designers.

The takeaway

The Love Letter Gallery showcases how personal expressions of love and connection can be elevated through the artistry of floral design, creating a unique and meaningful experience for both the letter writers and the exhibit's visitors.