LAURA BARAN

Our creative intelligence is innate and universal. Everyone deserves the safety to play and create.
No art as usual during genocide.

The imperial war machine in Israel, funded by US and its enablers, have been manufacturing starvation and hunting children inside Gaza, the world’s largest concentration camp, for almost 2 years as of this writing in June 2025.

Imperial powers have decided that weapons testing is ok on a civilian population that is more than 50 percent children. Drones, quadcopters, AI-powered tech, and new bombs that shred bodies in a unique way are all being used on children in Gaza.

I painted the canvas edges with symbols of the “Right of Return” inspired by, and as a way to honor, Tatreez, Palestinian embroidery.
I’m a Jewish mother whose grandparents survived the Nazi holocaust. I reject zionism and have a moral responsibility to act for the safety of those surviving extermination.

Proceeds if sold go to the Gazan-Led Community Support Fund (@gazanledcsf). — LB

Watercolor portraits depict families in Gaza with whom I chat directly.

Linked to each portrait is a survival fund that has been carefully vetted and verified by the global mutual aid collective of which I’m a part: Bees & Watermelons, or by Operation Olive Branch and Butterfly Effect Project.

I want you to join me to help survivors of extermination. Click on a portrait to view their family’s survival fund. Consider giving regularly to a family fund.

My intention is to honor Palestinian families through portraiture, to help my friends survive extermination, and to re-humanize them.

I don’t take any proceeds or make any money from this project. — LB