A tender rebellion in color and texture, Hiba Alyawer’s sculpture wraps transformation in mesh and memory, where every drip, and dot whispers resilience in progress. This piece is electric like stepping into the wardrobe of a cosmic ballerina mid-rehearsal. The posture says defiance, the palette screams joy and that mesh skirt? It’s not just tulle, it’s a constellation of stories stitched in paint.​

She doesn’t wait for the world to color her in, she paints herself bold, fearless, and unapologetically strange. A patchwork of power stitched in whimsy

Nature knows no division, only love and symbiosis. History can be found in the earth as colored layers in rocks or rings on a tree. Amongst humans our layers are sewn and stained with painful histories of racism, sexism, greed and inequality, layers that continue to harm the most vulnerable. This sculpture is about acknowledging and learning from those layers as the pathway forward.

Inspired by the free movement of dance, this disco girl reflects the light of her bright present and future. Complex and made of many delicate parts, she comes together to create a strong individual. You see yourself in her. The sky's the limit.

Hanji is a Korean paper made from the inner bark of mulberry trees. A multipurpose medium, when manipulated, hanji becomes strong and durable, possessing a fabric-like quality. With this material, I created the traditional hanbok that the girl is wearing.

Hanji is of the earth, and like the earth, it needs nurturing, care, and mutual respect to grow and provide for us. For this sculpture, I wanted to honor Mother Nature and the land in which we’ve planted roots. Our lives are forever intertwined with the beating heart of this planet, and it is important to defend our protected lands and preserve our natural world.

Vera stands in quiet defiance, her message simple yet unwavering: “Love and truth always win—always.” Subtle tones speak to inner strength, while her hand-scrawled sign evokes conviction, vulnerability, and hope. She reflects the enduring spirit of girls growing up in a world that asks much—and needs even more from them.

I use my visual language of ‘Optical Improvisation’ in the service of love. With each stroke of color, text and iconography, I intend to remove all social constructs that prevent humanity from seeing with the collective heart beyond the confines of the individual mind. For me, every canvas becomes a weapon of mass construction.

My piece is a stylistic take on Norman Rockwell’s 1964 painting, “The Problem We All Live With”, a powerful commentary on racism and segregation in America.

Similarly, restricted reproductive rights are shaping the coming-of-age story for our next generation. The piece offers the perspective of the hypothetical girl and the observer. Are you helper or a hindrance?

“Have It All” represents the weight girls start carrying young, and never really put down. It’s the expectation to be strong but gentle, ambitious but nurturing, independent but never intimidating, and to do it without ever showing the strain. She wears a tapestry of invisible labor. Mental tabs, to-do lists, emotional load, and the quiet costs of womanhood.

We see her strength. Do we see the weight too?

Red and Blue have become symbols of division, polarizing our nation instead of bringing us together. I believe the full spectrum of color has the power to inspire, heal, and unite us in shaping a more empathetic, equitable, and vibrant country.

Color has the power to inspire, heal, and unite us.

It has been eight years since I attended the first Women's March in Washington, D.C., in 2017. At that time my daughter was a toddler and I felt an urgent need to advocate for her future. That urgency has only intensified, morphed into absolute fear for all our daughters' futures. You can kNOck us down, tell us we're not eNOugh, but we'll keep getting back up. Because we are NOble and raveNOus, and ready to make some NOise.

“I Have a Voice | Tengo una Voz” is a declaration, not a request. This sculpture of a young Latina girl affirms that even before she is old enough to vote, her voice carries power—rooted in culture, lived experience, and a fearless belief in her right to speak.

The bullhorn at her hip represents readiness: when she chooses to speak, her message will be amplified. Every element on her—beaded bracelets in English and Spanish made by local youth, a sin miedo (‘fearless’) necklace crafted by a Salvadorian, LA-based female artisan, and the 21 Latin American flags stitched onto her jeans—reflects a layered identity shaped by both legacy and present-day realities. Her hand-painted body honors the vibrant textile traditions of Latin America, while her upcycled, custom-designed clothing makes space for young people to see themselves in her image.

She stands at the intersection of heritage and urgency, in the face of still-present inequities, showing that a young advocate carries generations behind her and a future ahead—and that a young person can form a voice that is informed, thoughtful, and entirely their own. This work is not just about finding your voice or being heard—it’s about being believed, supported, impossible to replace, and never silenced.

HEIRESS II was born from the question: What would I tell the young girl I once was? Created with vintage Laura Ashley fabric—like the floral dresses my mother and grandmother once sewed for me—HEIRESS II honors the feminine strength passed down through my maternal lineage. But what I didn’t consciously know until womanhood, and what I’d tell my younger self, as well as girls of current and future generations: Your power lives within you. It is beautiful. It is whole. It belongs to you. And it is yours to claim and express.

Inspired by the free movement of dance, this disco girl reflects the light of her bright present and future. Complex and made of many delicate parts, she comes together to create a strong individual. You see yourself in her. The sky's the limit.

As part of the Forever Fearless movement, my statue represents the transformative power of love. While I may not identify as a political artist, I believe that choosing love is a profound act in today’s world. Dressed in vibrant patterns, my sculpture stands tall, symbolizing hope and resilience. The phrase "Choose Love" serves as a reminder that love can uplift and unite us, creating a nurturing environment for all, especially young girls.

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This piece invites viewers to reflect on love’s impact in their lives. Each detail showcases the beauty that arises when we prioritize compassion and understanding. In a time when connection and positivity are vital, may this mannequin inspire you to embrace love as a guiding principle, fostering a brighter future for everyone.

Our world is simultaneously on fire & drowning. Women & girls disproportionately experience the greatest impacts of man-made climate change, yet remain underrepresented in discussions across the globe despite their knowledge of ancestral best practices & deep understanding of community social & economic considerations. In the midst of rising seas and fiery temperatures, girls & women create solutions that are more inclusive, longer-lasting, & sustainable.

This statue reflects the experience of growing up as a girl today, with armor symbolizing the resilience built to navigate societal pressures. The American flag colors represent the influences shaping their identity and sense of belonging in this country.

As an artist with an invisible disability, a former special needs educator, and the mother of children with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, I create work that speaks to resilience, advocacy, and the power of community. “200%” reflects strength in fragility, with golden egg shells marking areas of physical struggle and 24k gold leaf symbolizing perseverance and empathy. Mosaics highlight the beauty in brokenness, while the ADA flag calls attention to the need for visibility, dignity, and government support for people with disabilities. This piece is a celebration of our worth, our fight, and our ability to shine in the face of adversity.

My artwork not only features my students, but celebrates and honors them as living pieces of art. I hope my work inspires and informs viewers about gun violence and its effect on today's youth. My sculpture speaks to and for the youth and educators, especially those working in Title I schools.

I used rich black paint, hand-painted fabric, and custom fabricated textiles to illustrate the emotional trauma suffered by students who fear or have experienced gun violence.

My students often express feelings of discard by the government, and feel they are deemed invaluable. My art showcases these individuals — their stories and experiences — as the masterpieces they truly are.

How we have forsaken the little girls of this country?

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In the first 3 days following the 2024 election of Donald Trump, this phrase was used across social media platforms 53 million times.

Often young women early on are put in a box or have expectations placed on them, before they can define themselves. When we expand our vision and remove the limits from our potential, we can do and be anything. There is a powerful hero in each of us, and the more we let that hero shine the more we can create change and inspire the world.