This exhibit explores the subtle and often hidden emotional experiences of individuals navigating the complex landscape of political turmoil, repression, and conflict. Through intimate portraits and environmental photography, it delves into the emotional undercurrents that persist beneath the surface of everyday life, particularly in times of political polarization, unrest, and authoritarian control.

Through this theme, the artists look beyond the noise of headlines and rhetoric to capture the personal emotional costs of living in a charged political climate. The exhibit reveals the internal struggles of individuals—whether it’s the quiet tension of anxiety and fear, the weight of emotional repression in politically oppressive regimes, or the fragile hope that persists amidst ongoing conflict.

The Quiet Struggle also highlights how peace—or the fragile attempt at peace—can coexist with a society still divided by conflict, distrust, and unresolved tension. It looks at the emotional toll of silence under authoritarianism and the cautious optimism of those striving for peace, even in the face of setbacks. From the constant low hum of stress and fear to the hidden resilience that refuses to be silenced, the exhibit captures the complex emotional responses of a society grappling with the weight of political division and the ongoing struggle for harmony.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lawrence Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Kat Almonte is an abstract painter and black & white film photographer. Their works are primarily created using the technique of automatism in swathes of paint. Light and shadows placed by the sun or artificial lights of the city inspire their photography. Almonte uses these overlays to show the parts of their formative years in their environment. Within their painting and photography lies the unconscious concept of their past. Primal screams from an adolescent Almonte were only silenced by their visually impactful shots of unbiased intention and the courage to see their surroundings as more than something that conflicts with their values.

IG: Kat_almonte_

Natasha Jimenez is a Massachusetts-based photographer whose inspiration stems from everyday life, finding beauty in its most natural and unassuming forms. With over eight years of experience, she has built a career specializing in weddings, family portraits, and documenting life’s most meaningful milestones.

Her work is rooted in connection — the unspoken exchanges, fleeting glances, and quiet truths that reveal themselves when people feel truly seen. While she has photographed countless stories for clients, her most personal work centers on her own children, capturing the layers of love, resilience, and growth that unfold over time.

In both her professional and personal projects, Jimenez’s photographs carry a sense of honesty and intimacy, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and find pieces of their own story within the frame.

IG: @ceciliajean_photography

Mahli Rivera is a Latina queer artist based in the city of Lawrence, MA. Her artistic journey began in 2023 when she started taking art classes at her college, driven by a desire to understand her world and her interaction with it. Through photography, Rivera explores her emotional journey and the complexities of her identity, particularly as a queer Latina woman raised in a religious environment.

Working primarily with film, digital, and medium-format photography, Rivera’s work is deeply rooted in symbolism, contrast, texture, and visual storytelling. She draws inspiration from her personal experiences and the Baroque movement, which influences the dramatic, emotive style she brings to her work. Her modern-day Baroque-inspired photography expresses the layers of her emotions, navigating past, present, and future stages of life.

Rivera’s art aims to evoke deep emotional reflection in viewers. She hopes that her pieces encourage those who engage with them to process their feelings and explore their own personal journeys. Her signature technique involves playing with contrast and texture to create compelling visual narratives that invite introspection and emotional connection.

www.mriverastudios.com
IG: @mahliriverastudios

As a Dominican photographer, Reneiry Santiago’s work explores the human experience with an artistic vision that blends documentary storytelling with a cinematic and introspective feel. Driven by a desire to convey feelings and thoughts through the lens, they create evocative and timeless imagery across various genres, including portraiture and street photography.

Reneiry’s work is united by a focus on the quiet moments that define our lives, whether they are captured in the intimate vulnerability of a self-portrait or within the fleeting scenes of everyday life. By infusing each photograph with emotional depth and a unique perspective, Reneiry aims to create a lasting connection with the viewer, inviting them to pause, reflect, and find beauty in the ordinary.

IG: @ren.eiry