acrylic and marker on canvas
 
36 x 48 in
 
From the American People celebrates and commemorates the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) six decades of work around the world. USAID’s reports and stories of impact were taken down from the internet and spun into false narratives. Ali Syverson, a former USAID employee, put the real story into a new format that cannot be so easily altered or erased. This painting includes the iconic USAID logo’s handshake surrounded by a collage of depictions of the agency’s programs in different country contexts — including conservation in the Amazon, fisheries in the Pacific Islands, water and sanitation in the Philippines, agriculture in Egypt, and renewable energy technologies in various settings. The names of fallen colleagues who were killed in the line of duty since 1961 are written along the sides of the painting. This painting is dedicated to their service, as well as the thousands of employees who have dedicated their careers to working in foreign aid. To all USAID colleagues, contractors, and broader international development network - thank you for your service, and may you find peace in the next chapter.