Forgotten stories
ellis island
2024 - ongoing
“Forgotten Stories” is a photo essay on the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital. Over the course of several visits, I roamed the hallways of the hospital, photographing the peeling walls, empty beds and echoing halls. By using images of my own ancestors and their peers in collages and diptychs, I was able to insert myself into a larger, collective story. Between 1892 - 1954, over 30 million people passed through Ellis; more than 10,000 were marked with chalk and sent to the island’s hospital. This body of work centers on that space. Black and white imagery evokes the era, underscoring how our nation once opened its arms to the world, and how that message has shifted. As an artist, I am drawn to forgotten stories. This project is a tribute to those who walked before us—and a reflection on where we stand now.
