Original Acrylic Painting | Constructing Boundaries | 11"x11"

Original Acrylic Mixed Media Painting

Constructing Boundaries is an original acrylic painting that explores the tension between labor, identity, and authority in the context of immigration. Set against the backdrop of a sky-blue concrete surface pattern made with acrylic and quartz sand, this piece captures the moment of a home construction worker’s detainment by ICE.

Artist Statement:
This painting speaks to the vulnerable position of immigrant workers, particularly those in the construction industry, who face constant threats of separation from their families and communities. The man in the painting, portrayed with rabbit ears as a symbol of fragility and resilience, sits atop the home he is building — a structure meant to provide safety and stability, yet one that has become a backdrop for his moment of uncertainty and fear.

The immigration officer, depicted as a polar bear, stands on a ladder above, symbolizing the overwhelming and cold presence of authority. The concrete sky, with its abstract texture of acrylic and quartz sand, serves as a metaphor for the harsh, inescapable conditions these individuals face. Constructing Boundaries invites viewers to reflect on the broader societal forces that shape our perceptions of labor, citizenship, and human dignity. It challenges us to reconsider who gets to build and who gets to stay.