Papeles

Artist’s Statement

I’ve been directly affected by the heartbreaking state of immigration in the US, and many of the dearest people in my life still are. One of whom came to the US illegally when he was a teenager; his reason, the same as so many others, to escape poverty and corruption in his home country of Mexico. I’ve personally seen the sacrifices that people will make in order to have a better life than the one they’re born into, including the risk of death from the journey and being faced with not seeing family members for decades once here. And they are sacrifices I would undoubtedly make myself if I were in their position.

There are so many misconceptions about who these people are and why they’ve done what they have; and with this project I attempt to bring light to the real answers to these misconceptions, to bring humanity to the issue. The concept that I’m intending this work to convey is an importance on family and resilience. I’ve taken a documentary approach and have captured the everyday moments of one family, most of whom the members are undocumented. They are exactly like us, in every way except one, papers.

Awards: Yefim Cherkis Memorial Scholarship

Solo Exhibition: Gallery Obscura, September 2019