Portraits in Red: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls by Nayana LaFond

Portraits in Red: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls began on May 5, 2020 with one painting, "Lauraina in RED," created for the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Nayana LaFond put out an open call, saying she would paint a couple more portraits if people sent information on subjects. She received more than 25 the first day with stories and photos, and decided to dedicate herself to painting all she receives. Each portrait is of someone who is missing, was murdered, survived, their family member or friend, or an activist/hero fighting for the cause. Through her work LaFond hopes to make sure the missing and dead are never forgotten, to raise awareness about this serious issue, and to provide help with healing to the families she works with. LaFond continues to receive new images and stories and has an ongoing queue of 20-30.

"After leaving art school I went on to own and run a cafe and record label as well work as a curator for over 20 years in various galleries and museums, 8 of which as Chief Curator. Through my work as an art organizer I have been honored to now sit on the executive board for Artist Organized Art as well as several other arts and cultural boards. My paintings and sculptures can be found in galleries, museums and private collections around the world.

My Art is primarily acrylic paint on canvas, sometimes integrating ink, cloth, thread and other materials into my work. I paint paintings & sculpt using epoxy, metal, glass and concrete as well as found objects and my old medical supplies.

Life has been my inspiration. Through challenges and surviving seemingly insurmountable odds art has been my outlet and the place I could express that which could not be said. The majority of my work carries themes of social justice and as such I have been labelled as an "Artivist" (art-activist). My work reflects themes from my experiences as a woman of mixed race and a Domestic abuse and cancer survivor."

Augusta Savage Gallery

Gallery is open M & T 1-7pm, W-F 1-5pm

https://fac.umass.edu/online/article/portraits

free and open to the public