The third annual New York Proud Campaign 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.  

The campaign features striking portraits by Venezuelan artist and documentary photographer Oscar B. Castillo, capturing the experiences and identities of immigrant New Yorkers from communities across the city. The exhibits, created in partnership with Photoville, bring these portraits to public spaces across New York City throughout the fall, transforming familiar gathering places into opportunities to encounter the people and communities that shape New York. 

New York Proud is on view in Times Square, Manhattan (August 28 – September 7, 2026), Mill Pond Park, Bronx (September 10 – October 5), Queens Museum, Queens (September 28 – November 2), and The Plaza at 300 Ashland, Brooklyn (October 6 – October 28).

Presented in partnership with Photoville, New York Proud was developed collaboratively by the New York Immigration Coalition, F.Y. Eye, The Opportunity Agenda. The initiative features work from documentary photographer Oscar B. Castillo.

This initiative reaffirms the indispensable role of immigrants in shaping New York City’s identity through a living and growing collection of portraits and stories. It serves as a reminder that immigrants are not only integral to our past but essential to our future, driving innovation, creativity, and progress in every corner of our city. By centering these narratives, New Yorkers are encouraged to reflect and recognize the essential contributions of immigrants, ensuring our city remains a beacon of pride and progress.

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

Center image courtesy of NYIC

“New York Proud is about making visible what has always been true: immigrants are New York,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “At a time when immigrant communities are too often targeted or reduced to political talking points, we are putting real New Yorkers—their faces, their stories and their contributions—at the center of some of our city’s most public spaces. Immigrants shape our neighborhoods, strengthen our economy and enrich our culture. This campaign celebrates that truth and reminds us that New York is strongest when every community can see itself reflected in the city we share.”

“As a Venezuelan artist, I understand how powerful it can be to see our lives and communities represented in the places that define a city,” said Oscar B. Castillo, New York Proud campaign photographer. “These portraits are about dignity, belonging and the everyday people who make New York what it is. By bringing their stories into public spaces, I hope New Yorkers will pause, look closely and recognize both their neighbors and themselves.” 

“Immigrants power New York City’s communities, culture, and economy, bringing our city to life every day. The New York Immigration Coalition’s New York Proud public art initiative showcases the contributions of immigrant New Yorkers, helping to ensure their stories are seen and told everywhere. As immigrant communities continue to face challenges, attacks, and uncertainty from the federal government, it remains imperative that we uplift their essential role in our city and reaffirm our commitment to their safety and well-being,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza N. Ali.