House of Cards

These porcelain works reflect the vulnerability of individuals facing deportation and the fragility of American democracy. They feature overglaze decals of “Print Your Own Red Cards” (tarjetas rojas), which are available online in 16 languages to help people assert their legal rights and protect themselves against constitutional violations during encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reverse sides display black-and-white U.S. flags—symbols of protest—that express objection to the actions of the current administration and disillusionment with the nation’s unfulfilled promises of justice and equality.

One work in the series, Jenny, You’re No Richard Shaw, riffs off Shaw’s Whiplash!, acknowledging both Shaw's remarkable craftsmanship and ceramic history while modifying the concept to reflect the jolting, disorienting nature of our own time and place in history, and speaking to the narratives we inherit and create.

The constant threat of deportation—leaving countless lives hanging in the balance—is just one of many reckless actions shaking the foundation of our democracy, making it fragile, unsteady, and one crisis away from collapse.