Facing The Forgotten

Historically, having your portrait drawn denoted importance. Only the rich and powerful could afford to have someone spend time making a likeness of their face; and now, in the days of photography, it still holds true that taking time to draw someone elevates their identity and worth. This is the driving theme behind these portraits, which depict some of the people I've encountered in my travels and work with Partners Relief and Development. They're Rohingya. They're Iraqi. They're Kurdish. And among all their other attributes, they're also refugees, forced to flee their homes because of conflict and oppression. These portraits are attempts to humanize, elevate, and dignify populations that most of the world has forgotten.