Immigration 2025: Bearing Witness
I created this series as an ally–not to speak for immigrants but to stand beside them. Layered with sourced information, each symbolic portrait holds space for presence, dignity, and humanity in a moment marked by removal and erasure, allowing art to speak where liberty and law have failed. Today, the United States is building the largest immigration enforcement system in its history. This expansion is perpetuating a form of systemic racism, with unprecedented levels of cruelty, that operates in direct opposition to the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law. This work is offered as an act of bearing witness, of honoring, and as an invitation to reflect on interconnectedness and hope.
(click on image to enlarge and to read text)
Daughter
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor on canvas
30" x 24"
Brother
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor on canvas
30" x 24"
Grandson
charcoal, ink gouache, and watercolor
on canvas
30" x 24"
Father
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor
on canvas
30" x 24"
Sister
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor
on canvas
30" x 24"
Granddaughter
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor
on canvas
30" x 24"
Grandmother
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor
on canvas
30" x 24"
Grandfather
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor on canvas
30" x 24"
Son
charcoal, ink, gouache, and watercolor
on canvas
30" x 24"
From the beginning, my goal was to create a body of work to both raise awareness and be of service in some way. I'm excited that the series will be exhibited at various venues in Seattle and Portland in 2026 and then be donated to the amazing El Centro de la Raza organization (elcentrodelaraza.org) in Seattle. They will use the collection for fundraising at their annual gala and will add some of the pieces to their permanent art collection. Since 1972, El Centro de la Raza has worked tirelessly to achieve their mission of organizing, empowering, and defending the basic human rights of marginalized populations. Their vision is of a world free of oppression based on poverty, racism, sexism, sexual orientation, and discrimination. I've been honored to be in collaboration with them.