Public art has the power to stop us in our tracks and remind us that creativity belongs to everyone. Alketa Xhafa Mripa is a London-based conceptual artist whose work has appeared in major galleries, museums, and human rights institutions worldwide. Over the past decade, her public art installation Thinking of You has travelled to cities across the globe, sharing the voices of survivors of wartime sexual violence. Now, the series reaches its most significant stage yet - New York City - and we need your help to bring it to life.
Vision
Thinking of You is a multi-site installation honoring survivors of wartime sexual violence and advocating for dignity and justice. The work transforms clothing donated by survivors and supporters into a striking public display of awareness and solidarity.
The aim is to bring Thinking of You to cities where policy and legislation are shaped - a reminder to those in power that behind each dress is a real survivor whose story deserves to be seen and heard.
Born in Prishtina (2015), the installation has travelled to The Hague (2024) and Strasbourg (2025), and will appear in Oslo, home of the Nobel Peace Centre, in June 2026.
We have now secured approval to install Thinking of You on Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, the gateway to the UN Headquarters in New York, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women session in March 2026.
Before 2030, the installation will continue to Geneva, the hub of international diplomacy; London, birthplace of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI); and Brussels, home to NATO and the European Commission.
About Thinking of You
Sexual violence in conflict remains widespread, with survivors often silenced by stigma and denied justice. Thinking of You represents their resilience and courage, amplifying survivors’ voices and calling on those in power to act.
The installation transforms washing lines filled with donated clothing into symbols of hope and defiance.
It began in Alketa’s native Kosova, honoring survivors of the 1998–99 war through thousands of donated dresses displayed in the national stadium - a collective act of remembrance and healing.
The project and its documentary received international attention. In 2024, with support from the Mukwege Foundation, Thinking of You was recreated in The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, featuring garments from survivors in over 20 countries including the DRC, Myanmar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Colombia. The installation opened on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
In March 2025, Alketa addressed the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where Thinking of You was later displayed at the Council and throughout the city - draping streets with donated clothing to honor survivors worldwide.
How You Can Help
Donate: While previous installations were supported by NGOs and institutions, this project is entirely grassroots. Every contribution directly funds production, amplifies survivors’ voices, and helps demand justice.
Share: Please share this campaign with friends and family to help spread awareness.
Thank you for your support.
Learn more at www.alketaxhafamripa.com
Watch previous installations on Alketa’s YouTube channel
Watch the 'making of' documentary of Thinking of You in Strasbourg: