Mosaic: An Immersive Artist’s Book of Immigrant Stories

What began as a community workshop evolved into a deeply personal and collaborative artwork. I created “Mosaic” through a series of community workshops designed as both healing spaces and places of art-making. In these gatherings, recent immigrants from diverse backgrounds came together to share, reflect, and create. We spoke about our journeys, our challenges, and our triumphs. We wrote personal immigration stories and discussed a central question: What does “home” mean?

With their trust and consent, I collected images from each participant’s personal archives—photographs from both their native countries and their new lives in the United States. These images, along with their words, became the foundation for a deeply collaborative work of art.

I then transformed these personal archives into a one-of-a-kind, hand-bound artist’s book. Every page chronicles an individual’s journey across borders, cultures, and time. Long, flowing, physical strings and string-like drawings weave through the pages, connecting each narrative visually—like shared threads in a collective fabric. The result is not simply a compilation of images and words, but a living archive: an artwork that preserves, honors, and amplifies the layered complexity of the immigrant experience.

Every page in “Mosaic” holds layers of meaning: the vulnerability of sharing one’s past, the resilience of adapting to a new place, and the quiet power of seeing one’s story honored in art. The hand-bound format allows the work to be intimate and tactile, inviting viewers to turn the pages slowly, to linger, and to connect with each story. It is unlike a mass-produced book—each stitch, transfer, and mark reflects hours of careful work, echoing the patience and dedication embedded in every immigrant’s journey.

Mosaic is a testament to the idea that immigrant stories are American stories. Together, these narratives form a portrait of contemporary America—plural, layered, and resilient. It is a work born from community, shaped by trust, and created to ensure these voices are not only heard but remembered.

I am grateful for the additional support of Thrive International, Foundation House Connecticut, Vermont Studio Center, and Ucross, whose generosity made this project possible. “Mosaic” is set to launch and be exhibited at Strata Santa Fe Gallery in October, 2025.