Created for The Art of Care gallery by Planned Parenthood. This portrait reflects the journey of a survivor who’s reclaiming her body, voice, and freedom after enduring sexual abuse, coercive control, and ongoing harassment from an intimate partner. Long after the relationship ended, the harm continued through intimidation, threats to her career and reputation, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images—attempts to silence her and undermine the work she has dedicated most of her life to: liberation work. Because the abuse came from within the same organizing community, spaces built for justice became places of fear, revealing the unique risks women organizers face when those who cause harm remain embedded in movements built on trust. Rather than allowing those threats to define her, she makes the daily choice of reclamation. The emotions woven into this piece—resolve, determination, fearlessness, and grace—reflect the daily practice of returning to the self. The pose chosen here is both a declaration and a reminder: to honor the body that survived, trust its wisdom, and to acknowledge the fear abuse leaves behind, and have the courage to observe. It is a testament to liberation—the fight to constantly remind oneself that the person who once tried to take control, and continues to make attempts, ultimately could never. This is resistance. This is a reminder to stay present in the body, acknowledging the fear and grief involved in healing. Many times, that is the very experience of taking one’s power back.
Click here to view the digital gallery, and click here to read more about this campaign.
Created for The Art of Care gallery by Planned Parenthood. This portrait reflects the journey of a survivor who’s reclaiming her body, voice, and freedom after enduring sexual abuse, coercive control, and ongoing harassment from an intimate partner. Long after the relationship ended, the harm continued through intimidation, threats to her career and reputation, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images—attempts to silence her and undermine the work she has dedicated most of her life to: liberation work. Because the abuse came from within the same organizing community, spaces built for justice became places of fear, revealing the unique risks women organizers face when those who cause harm remain embedded in movements built on trust. Rather than allowing those threats to define her, she makes the daily choice of reclamation. The emotions woven into this piece—resolve, determination, fearlessness, and grace—reflect the daily practice of returning to the self. The pose chosen here is both a declaration and a reminder: to honor the body that survived, trust its wisdom, and to acknowledge the fear abuse leaves behind, and have the courage to observe. It is a testament to liberation—the fight to constantly remind oneself that the person who once tried to take control, and continues to make attempts, ultimately could never. This is resistance. This is a reminder to stay present in the body, acknowledging the fear and grief involved in healing. Many times, that is the very experience of taking one’s power back.
Click here to view the digital gallery, and click here to read more about this campaign.
