victims of sexual abuse and exploitation are often silenced.
The Reclaiming Voices Survivor Art Show is designed to give voice to the experiences of survivors of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation using their personal creative artistic style to tell their story. This exhibition features both professional and aspiring artists as well as anonymous submissions. This is not a judged competition and instead is a place to showcase the creativity and expression of survivors’ experiences through art.
This exhibit is hosted by Reclaim13 which works to end the cycle of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
DISCLAIMER: We want to honor the individual journeys of all of the survivors who willingly share their voices with us in the Reclaiming Voices Survivor Art Show. While their perspectives are their own, and not necessarily reflections of Reclaim13, we want to honor the diverse array of individual expressions of survival of sexual abuse and exploitation.
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I See You
Regina Williams
I See You is all about the eyes. It's about wanting to hide, taking cover from being abused again, dealing with the struggles of life, the daily fight, the rage and anger... we want you to know we see you.
Nobody
M.B.
“Nobody” was inspired by wanting to show color in life. There are many different colors that we can show people. It can be a representation of us as individuals. The white lines represent our imperfections. We can change colors throughout life, but will never be perfect. I am a teenager that is passionate about art and music. These things inspire me everyday and that creates more art within my life. I love to be outside because it is the most inspiring place for me. I am able to touch, feel, hear and discover more.
Reflection
J.R.
Seeing myself more positively, surrounded by beauty.
Rompiendo Cadena (Breaking Chains)
Guadelupe Sosa
This piece was done in graphite. It's the hands of Christ setting a dove free from chains. Freedom is a word I thought I would never know. This piece has been years in the making, but before it came the heartache, the suffering, and the breaking of my spirit…
Sparkle
Sparkle
"Sparkle" is a reflection of courage in the mist of bondage and darkness. Even though "Sparkle" was subject to the depths of evil in human form, it was "Sparkle's faith" that kept her alive literally and in the spirit…
What’s To Come?
Mary Melka
I used an old black and white photo of me as a reference. At the time of the photo I had no memory of the abuse. The flashbacks started a year and a half later.
Links of My Life
Nicole R.
The poem is me questioning my mom about my life. The puzzle pieces in the background represent the different parts of my life. This piece is an image of me when I was a toddler and an image of me when I was in my 20s. The plant on the little girl represents a seed, the drops represent the adult tears that helps grow the little Nicole.
Feathered Tattoos
Arina Bagaryakova
My song "Feather Tattoos" delves into the topics of overcoming pain, finding strength in familial bonds, and the transformative power of art in the healing process. The feather tattoos depicted in the lyrics symbolize the survivor's journey – each one a testament to the strength gained from familial connections. It is a poignant and emotive song that encapsulates the journey of a survivor reclaiming their voice after enduring the wounds of past trauma.
"Feather Tattoos" will be presented as an immersive experience, combining the evocative lyrics with visual elements that echo the themes of survival, strength, and healing. As viewers listen, they will be invited to reflect on their own journeys and the collective strength found in shared narratives. "Feather Tattoos" transcends individual stories to become a universal anthem of courage, resilience, and the transformative power of artistic expression in the face of adversity.
Transformation
Maria Zucchero-Denkov
The swirling motion of the art piece exudes a vibrant and dynamic energy, akin to the graceful dance of dervishes. It embodies a sense of movement, fluidity, and transformation, evoking a feeling of constant motion and change. The swirling motion symbolizes the ever-changing nature of life, inviting viewers to embrace the flow of energy and embrace the beauty of impermanence.
Truth Within
Angel Noelle
With this piece I wanted to inspire what embracing my truth felt like to me. Accepting parts of myself that were true knowing that certain parts of me I don’t have to hide, and loving the genuine freedom that comes with that…
The Breaker
Lori Crowell
I am a survivor of many forms of abuse, including being trafficked. God has brought amazing healing to my heart and mind. Recently, I experienced a breakthrough in my heart. I realized that I had a barrier, reinforced by the pain of years of trauma, that I didn't need anymore. By His Spirit, He began to break through the concrete in my soul…
Untitled
David Carey
I was sexually abused by my family doctor when I was 14. My Dad had just passed away and I was seeing him for anxiety. I like to quote a couple of lines from Anne Morrow Lindbergh's poem "The Stone":
"Stones that clog the stream of my delight,
Hidden beneath the surface out of sight".
Innocence
Debra Stewart
Anhelo (Yearn)
Juana Duran Charicata
Juana Duran Charicata is an undocumented/DACA artist, born in Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico and currently teaches art and is a muralist in the city of Chicago. Her body of work ranges from collaborative murals with her students to large-scale sand and acrylic paintings. Since 1995, the year Ms. Duran Charicata immigrated to the US, she and her family picked fruits and vegetables for a living. While migrating two to three times per year from state to state alongside with family members and others people, she maintained the spirit of her cultural and indigenous Purépecha traditions…
Tears of An Angel
L.A.
“Whatever you feel whatever you see is what it should be” just a girl who loves to create…
Prudence
Justice
Art is a proverbial wisdom.
Hidden
Michelle Spatafora-Bau
I have realized that there are a lot of things that people do not know about me. These are the things that I keep hidden. I want to work on my authentic self.
Held
Lea May
I am pleased to present to you my second piece titled, "Held". In this art piece, I explore the healing themes of the wounded inner child in a fetal position, through the figure of a young woman, a survivor of abuse, held the presence of an angel.
Rachel’s Story
Rachel Lewis
At the age of 57, I have finally learned two terms that name some of my childhood experiences. One term is non-state torture, and the other is child trafficking…
Words Unspoken
J.S.
My art and my words have been a journey since I was a little girl. Trauma has been embedded in my life not just as a child but has affected me everyday as an adult. These pieces are allowing that child to heal and let go. Trauma has put me into survival mode for most of my life, and I refuse to continue on this difficult journey.
Find Me
K.N.
Life is challenging, and sometimes I can't see myself.
Drowning In Blues
Eugenia Cane
Created in 2020 as an expression of being lost in the depths of depression and the struggle to rise above.
MasterPiece
Vicki Dau
What if you could look at your life circumstances and no matter what happened to you, you could see how God can bring beauty out of it? In my journey of self love and self acceptance, I have learned that if I shift my perspective, I can see the beauty within art, and more importantly, within me. I wish the same for you.
Cyclone of Color
Anonymous
It was a comparison. It started out "how I was seen & felt as a child". That was very invisible - life did not contain much color. Later I covered the invisible child with loved colors - "how I feel about life today". Now - Life is filled with so much more potential. Growth has caused there to be a cyclone of color. Mystery in the future - willingness to dance with the unknown!!
Untitled
Ashley
Anxiety, fears, composure…
Sunshine
A.C.
I made this at my aunt's house. I painted it with gold, blue, pink, green, and yellow. I like those colors. It's a garden with clouds and grass and butterflies and confetti. I like gardens. Sometimes when I go past gardens I see butterflies. They make me feel happy because they're colorful.