This practice-based study follows an artist who painted people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco and New York, gave portraits to the sitters and invited public participation through social media over six years. The project reached a museum exhibition and reportedly led to job offers for a few participants. Its clearest contribution is public visibility and affirmation of dignity; employment or wellbeing effects were not systematically evaluated.
Key findings
- The artist initially used found cardboard, pizza boxes and receipts, later moving to higher-quality materials as the project expanded. Social-media participation increased visibility and led to an exhibition that included the sitters. The paper mentions some job offers but provides no participant denominator, follow-up rate or standardised outcome data.
Why this matters globally
The project offers museums, cities and service organisations a way to communicate homelessness without reducing people to statistics. Ethical adaptation requires attention to consent, image rights, benefit sharing and the distribution of decision-making power.
Thai researcher contribution
Gomesh Karnchanapayap of Silpakorn University co-analysed the project, connecting a Thai institution to an international discussion of contemporary art and human dignity, although the fieldwork occurred in the United States.
Limitations to consider
This is a single-project case relying on practitioner interpretation and narrative outcomes. It lacks systematic sitter interviews, wellbeing or employment measures, and may be affected by survivorship bias toward memorable positive events.