Opening: Jeffly Gabriela Molina: Fragmentos de un sueño que yo también soñé (Fragments of a Dream I Also Dreamed)

Fragmentos de un sueño que yo también soñé (Fragments of a Dream I Also Dreamed) aims to visually capture the feelings of vulnerability, nostalgia, and hope embedded in the experience of many immigrants. In these works, Jeffly Gabriela Molina delves into memories and stories to create figurative compositions that fluctuate between the present, past, and future. Relying on her personal narrative, as well as interviews with families of migrants who recently arrived in Chicago, Molina intertwines moments from their current lives with motifs from their countries of origin and the futures they hope to manifest.

One of the artist’s preferred subjects is that of a dream home, where everyday objects such as a glass of water, a stairway, chairs, and photographs are arranged within “rooms” to reflect the memories and aspirations of individuals. About these compositions, Molina says that “every house is a body, and every individual body is a house full of memories and hopes.”

Through fragmented, layered, and figural compositions, these works mirror the experience of many individuals and families who leave their countries in search of security and prosperity. Her works emphasize optimism over hardship, specifically addressing the longing for a home that no longer exists while striving to create a new one. This sentiment resonates with numerous members of the Houston community, where 25% of residents are foreign-born. As such, this exhibition seeks to foster a sense of community and honor people’s stories.