Ayana Medley-Finch

Ayana is a biracial woman who graduated from Lesley in 2020. For ART.FOR.CHANGE., Ayana created a set of small portraits honoring the Black women who have helped to win the 2020 presidential election and the other Black femme figures of politics like our new mayor Kim Janey.

Artist Statement

For many, last years election was crucial too many folks identities were being threatened and brutalized by our previous president for four years. Politics became personal when Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to spread hate, fear and bigotry in the name of “patriotism”. These portraits are a tribute and thank you to a very small part of the 91% of Black women in the U.S. who secured the win for President Joe Biden. Because of them we are back on the path to unfolding real justice and true peace in America.

Nse Ufot, CEO of New Georgia Project

“Nothing underscores the power of their vote like winning the election. Seeing the power of their vote in real time is way more effective than nine months of message research we’ve done.”

LaTosha Brown - Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter

“In order for us to have something different, we’ve got to have a radical re-imagination and we’ve got to assert and stand in our power and our vision to create something different”

Stacey Abrams - Politician, Lawyer and Voting Rights Activist

“When we show up, act boldly, and practice the best ways to be wrong we fail forward. No matter where we end up we’ve grown from where we began”