New York Proud is a public art project presented in partnership with the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) celebrating the vibrant and diverse stories of immigrants across New York City.  

This campaign brings to life the personal journeys of immigrant New Yorkers through a striking photo series of 25 portraits, now displayed in subway stations and public spaces throughout New York City during the month of September and into October. With each portrait featuring people in or at their workplaces, the campaign emphasizes the integral roles and contributions of immigrants to the city’s cultural and economic landscape. 

New York Proud is to be featured in pop-up photo exhibitions across NYC, located in Times Square in Manhattan (August 30-September 14, 2024); in Brooklyn, as a co-presentation with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, at The Plaza at 300 Ashland Place (August 29-September 16, 2024); Hunter’s Point South Park, LIC, Queens (September 16-October 15, 2024); and (coming soon!) Starlight Park, The Bronx (November 4-December 6, 2024). These larger-than-life installations will allow the public to take a deeper look into the lives of the featured individuals.

Featured campaign participants include Jesus, a Peruvian drag queen; Marie Rose, a fruit vendor from Côte D’Ivoire; Mayowa, a Nigerian visual artist; and Antonio, a bus driver from Honduras, among many others. This campaign was developed in partnership with F.Y. Eye, The Opportunity Agenda, with portraits taken by Venezuelan documentary photographer Oscar B. Castillo. 

“New York Proud” is a citywide campaign to uplift and honor the resilience, contributions, and experiences of immigrants who shape the economic, cultural and social fabric of New York City. The portraits offer a curated visual narrative that reveals how immigrants are seamlessly integrated into the fabric of life across the city. We hope this campaign will ignite a citywide conversation about the importance of immigration to the vitality and future of New York City.

To learn more about campaign participants and how to view the pop-up exhibitions, visit www.immigrantsareny.org.

“The New York Proud campaign is more than just a celebration of immigrants—it’s a reminder of what makes New York, New York,” said Murad Awawdeh, President & CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “Our city is a global beacon of hope, a booming metropolis built by and powered by immigrants. For centuries, immigrants have played an indispensable role in driving innovation, creativity, and progress in our communities. We are proud to stand with our neighbors to amplify their stories and reset the conversation on immigration in New York City.”

“Capturing these human beings has been a profoundly moving experience,” said photographer Oscar B. Castillo. “I connected personally with each of the participants’ stories, and it’s an honor to present these images in spaces where millions of New Yorkers will encounter them daily. My hope is that these photographs will inspire empathy and understanding across our city.”

“Media, art, and advertising help tell the stories that shape how we see the world,” said Christina Daigneault, Executive Director of F.Y. Eye, a nonprofit social impact media organization. “The ‘New York Proud’ campaign uses these tools to celebrate the richness of immigrant experiences in New York City. By transforming public spaces into storytelling platforms, we aim to deepen understanding and build a more inclusive and compassionate city.”