Mission

Our mission is to bring attention to and memorialize the lives lost and tragically altered due to gun violence. Portraits have the unique ability to call out the souls and profoundly affect those who see them. Our goal is to present diverse works that in some way relay graphically or through narrative the essence of the person being portrayed.

This project will continue to bring some joy and peace to the families and friends of victims and, by bringing attention to the scourge of gun violence in this way, be a call to action to all who see them.

What We Do

We are an activist art project started in 2016. We randomly pair fine artists with family members or friends of victims of gun violence. The artists meet with the family/friend and learn about the life of the victims through stories, photos, mementos, videos, and writings. The artists then create portraits focusing on the life of the person using diverse approaches, styles, and mediums. The portraits become part of exhibitions. The exhibitions travel to various host venues, moving approximately every 4 weeks, and are free and open to the public. Each exhibition travels for one year. We offer educational programs in conjunction with the exhibitions. The exhibitions provide some solace to the loved ones of the victims and are a powerful force to move viewers to take action in the quest to end gun violence.