"New York Proud" is a narrative shift and public art campaign that reaffirms the indispensable role of immigrants in shaping New York's identity through a living and growing collection of portraits and stories.
This project serves as a reminder that immigrants are not only integral to our past but essential to our future, driving innovation, creativity, and progress in every corner of our state.
By centering these narratives, viewers are encouraged to reflect upon the contributions of immigrants to our social, cultural and economic life, while recognizing our shared identities as New Yorkers. We hope the project plays a role in ensuring our city remains a beacon of hope, progress, diversity and inclusion into the future.
Find an Exhibit Near You
New York City
Touring the Boroughs:
Times Square
(Manhattan)
Aug. 28 - Sept. 7
Mill Pond Park
(Bronx)
TBD
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
(Queens Museum)
Sept. 28 - Nov. 2
Ashland Place
(Brooklyn)
Oct. 6 - Oct. 28
St. George Staten Island Ferry Terminal (Staten Island)
March 2 - Sept 30
These installations would not have been possible without our partners at Photoville, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Times Square Arts, NYC Parks, Queens Museum
and Two Trees Management Co.
#BuffaloProud
Buffalo
Building on the broader "New York Proud" campaign, the work in Buffalo focused on localized public visibility by launching five high-impact billboards across the city featuring portraits of local immigrants. Created in collaboration with NYIC's Buffalo team and photographer Brandon Watson, these billboards highlighted the essential contributions, resilience, and diverse backgrounds of Buffalo’s immigrant and refugee neighbors to foster belonging and inclusion.
#RochesterProud
Rochester
For the first time the “New York Proud” expanded its scope to an area outside of New York City. While we hoped to engage Rochester residents to participate in a similar public art campaign as our New York City effort, we found that immigrant residents we approached were too fearful to participate, and worried about negative consequences of public exposure for themselves or their families. Rather than abandon the effort, we pursued a visual campaign to bring visibility to the essential role of immigrants across Rochester without using any portraiture. From bus tails to billboards, the campaign centers immigrants as essential to Rochester’s communities and future success.
“Rochester Proud”is an affirmation of the feeling of belonging that immigrant residents have for the city they call home.
Project Lead
New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC)
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization representing over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive.
In Partnership With
F.Y. Eye
F.Y. Eye is a nonprofit social impact media organization revolutionizing communications through the power of media, community, and art. Our work is rooted in collaboration and dedicated to increasing equitable access to information. We believe that by supporting an informed public, we build a stronger democracy that reflects the values and aspirations of all.
Oscar Castillo
Oscar Castillo is a documentary photographer, multimedia artist, and educator born in Caracas, Venezuela. His work primarily focuses on issues related to youth, identity, migration, cycles of political rupture and violence, as well as projects that promote social inclusion and community empowerment. His photography has been widely published by major media including Le Monde, The New Yorker, The New York Times, TIME Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. He has exhibited internationally and received awards and fellowships from Aperture / Paris Photo, the Diane Dammeyer Foundation, the Eugene Smith Grant, the Magnum Foundation, the Onassis Foundation, World Press Photo, and the Tim Hetherington Visionary Award, among others. His collaborative photobook Esos Que Saben about youth, incarceration, and reintegration in Venezuela has been recognized with a Mention of Honor at PhotoEspaña 2023, shortlisted by Aperture / Paris Photo 2022, and named one of TIME Magazine’s 20 Photobooks of the Year. The book is also part of the photobook collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Artist Statement:
This project is a celebration of the mosaic of people, cultures, talents, stories and countries of origin that make New York and New Yorkers so special. I am proud to share the portraits of a wide array of hard working New Yorkers to contribute to an increased understanding of our immigrant communities and their contributions to our city’s growth and success. In the middle of these troubled times, this project calls for more understanding and inclusion of these often marginalized sectors of our society, and to uplift the important contributions of millions of immigrants that make New York a unique place.
Brandon Watson
Brandon Watson is a photographer based in Buffalo, NY. His works focus on the obscure, yet dynamic, subcultures of society. Brandon’s work is not only a first-person view of “the process,” but a cipher that can be utilized to understand the unique language spoken within these hallowed factions.
Support Provided By
This project would not have been possible without the support of Brave of Us and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Additional support provided by Photoville, Flatiron NoMad Partnership, NYC Parks, Queens Museum, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, and Two Trees Management Co.
We would also like to thank Hagar Hafez, Meghan Maloney De Zaldivar, and Kayla Kelechian for their support on the Buffalo Proud campaign.