“Hell or High Water" is Anna (Trash Panda) Lacy’s M.F.A. thesis exhibition of allegorical  paintings  that chronicle a heroine's journey through a Louisiana swamp. This series follows the therapeutic process of visually mapping a reconnection with her inner child. Cajun mythology and folklore mercy to create an original folktale that unfolds across this original body of work. She uses elements of sublime and cuteness in her painting as well as multiple lighting conditions to tell different parts of the narrative. Each painting can be viewed in normal light, under a black light, and the glow in the dark elements appear when the lights are turned off to imply different timelines that are simultaneously converging and diverging. Rhinestones, acrylic charms, and glass beads have been incorporated for the purpose of weaving elements of cuteness into the work. The Exhibition was held on March 14, 2026 in two parts at The Pearl on Julia Street in Baton Rouge, LA. The first part was a quiet exhibition with traditional gallery lighting and blacklight flashlights for guests to explore the artworks at their own pace. The second part was held with full lighting transitions in conjunction with multiple local punk bands playing the reception.