​Introduction

How thin is the line between stability and homelessness, and what forces determine who falls across it? A Shift in Circumstance explores this through a split drawing that compares life before and after homelessness. Stability-related elements are shown on the left, such as a well-dressed individual, a working automobile, a family, and more. The right side, on the other hand, depicts instability with images such as a wrecked car, tattered clothes, and more. The piece emphasizes how swiftly one reality can change into another by showing a transformation of condition rather than two distinct people. The piece challenges viewers to reevaluate preconceived notions about homelessness and acknowledge its relationship to more general structural issues.

Literature Review

The project explores inequality and human perception through both artistic and scholarly influences. The piece’s artistic inspiration comes from Lee Jeffries, whose photographs of homeless people emphasize humanity and dignity, and Banksy, whose visual contrasts reveal social injustices through stark yet powerful imagery. These methods have an impact on how contrast, composition, and restraint are used to convey a message without going into too much detail. 

The piece’s scholarly research includes Thomas et al., which highlights the influence of visual representation on public perception by demonstrating how art can support healing, social inclusion, and identity-finding among those who are homeless (Thomas et al.). This is in favor of using visual contrast to combat stigma and promote empathy. Furthermore, Hartman claims that structural elements like housing affordability, rather than personal failure, are the main causes of homelessness (Hartman). When taken as a whole, these sources support the fundamental concept that lived experience is shaped by a lot of external systems.

Methods

The project makes use of the hand-drawn, intentionally divided composition that is guided by the concepts of balance and visual contrast. Elements and symbols are placed to create a coherent piece. Background research was carried out by analyzing visual works that address social injustice and reviewing scholarly literature. Revisions centered on enhancing clarity and intentionality in element placement based on feedback from faculty and peers. With that, the arrangement of the visual components now creates a distinct transition between stability and instability by guiding the viewer’s eye from left to right. In order to keep the composition approachable and meaningful, the quantity and arrangement of items were carefully chosen and revised to minimize visual clutter while maintaining their meaning.

Audience & Impact

The target audience is the general public, but more specifically, students at the University of Maryland who might not be familiar with homelessness as a systemic or big problem. The compositions’ visual simplicity makes them accessible to people with different levels of familiarity, and the contrast promotes further in-depth thinking. The piece seeks to refute viewers’ preconceived notions and encourage them to reevaluate how they view homelessness. By including elements that are recognizable, the piece emphasizes how small shifts in circumstance can lead to drastically different outcomes. The project’s ultimate goal is to promote more empathic and knowledgeable viewpoints and raise awareness of the systemic elements influencing homelessness.

References

Hartman, Melissa. “What Would It Take to End Homelessness in America?” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 12 Aug. 2025, We Can End Homelessness in America

Thomas, Yvonne, et al. “Homeless Adults’ Engagement in Art: First Steps towards Identity, Recovery and Social Inclusion.” Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, vol. 58, no. 6, 2011, pp. 429–436. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00977.x

Acknowledgements

To Professor Harold, for providing critical feedback on composition and structure. Lastly, to my colleagues, for highlighting simplicity, clarity, and the power of visual contrast.