Portraits of Immigrants

Hi, I’m Betsy - I’m a New York-based artist/writer and I’ve painted and written a series of portraits honoring some new Americans.  This collection tells the story of recent immigrants and refugees who came here like so many generations before them and who are the heartbeat of our great country.  Some came here on their own, some were brought as children.  Most are documented, one is not.  All are part of our American community and shine proudly from the canvas.  I hope this collection will showcase who these newcomers really are and inspire us all to remember our own history and love our neighbors. 

The series currently consists of 17 life-sized oil portraits featuring immigrants from a variety of countries and cultures.  The sitters have received fine art prints of their portraits as well as copies of the reference photos I took to assist my work.  And alongside each portrait in the collection is displayed a panel that features the sitter’s story, telling the viewer why they came here, what getting here and settling in was like for them, what they’ve accomplished since, and their hopes for the future.  Anyone who has ever heard their own family story about distant relatives coming to America will see their history in these faces.  They represent the best of that daring love of liberty and prosperity that have brought so many wonderful faces and stories to our shores.

After a two-year process of interviewing, sketching, writing, and painting, the collection was previewed at the Long Island City Arts Festival in the spring of 2018, and exhibited at two major churches in Manhattan this year.   Now I am hoping to raise money to show the collection at different venues in the New York area and continue spreading this wonderful message.  Four additional venues are eager to host exhibitions and need help to cover the cost of putting on the shows.  Money raised will pay for insurance and transportation for the art, plus exhibition fees for each show. 

I really hope you can support this campaign and help me reach a wider audience for these inspiring people and stories.  To find out more about the collection, please visit  www.portraitsofimmigrants.com.  Also, here is a link  to a write up about the series in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine.  And lastly, if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution you can do so at Fractured Atlas .  Thank you so much for your help!


With love,

Betsy