Making Choices. Creating the Future.

See Her by Ann Lewis bears witness to the hopes, doubts, and humanity of incarcerated women and reflects on how choices we all make have the power to support their future success.

about the piece

Commissioned by Now + There and conceived by artist activist Ann Lewis, this temporary mural at 808 Tremont Street in Boston was designed in collaboration with a local residential reentry facility for incarcerated women run by Community Resources for Justice. Creating this piece has illuminated the specific realities, desires and decisions facing women transitioning out of prison. The mural, which boldly features photographic elements and paint, is a reflection on the inherent worth, strength, and potential of these women and all women.

Engage with See Her

Visit the mural site, reflect on it, snap a photo, share with friends, get in touch and let us know your thoughts.
Listen to the playlist Ann used to inspire and inform her process.
Follow #SeeHerBOS on Twitter & Instagram to join the conversation about the realities of life for incarcerated and convicted women and criminal justice reform.
Buy a limited edition, signed print of the artwork. Support public art. Support an artist. Support Now + There. Support the work of Community Resources for Justice. Support women who are making choices and creating the future. Get cool art.

Thanks to our Wrap Party Supporting Sponsor, The Boston Foundation!

Featured Stories

Ann Lewis, See Her, PAN Awards

"See Her" by Ann Lewis Honored at PAN Award Ceremony

Ann Lewis, See Her, PAN Awards

We’re grateful to share that “See Her” by Ann Lewis has been recognized, along with 48 other art works, at the Public Art Network Year in Review awards ceremony, honoring outstanding public artworks created in 2017 from all over the United States.

Ann Lewis, See Her, PAN Awards

See Her, artistic process, Ann Lewis, mural, Boston

Public Art is About Learning in Public

See Her, artistic process, Ann Lewis, mural, Boston

Making public art has its own unique qualities. The creative process is vulnerable as people can comment and judge before the work is finished. And yet, its very openness at this delicate stage is, in turn, more dynamic in that it constantly sparks interactions with local inhabitants.

Four months after the inaugural celebration of the mural See Her, artist Ann Lewis and Kate Gilbert, to debrief with Martina Tanga about the successes and stumbling blocks of the project.

See Her, artistic process, Ann Lewis, mural, Boston

Ann Lewis, See Her, mural, Boston, Public Art, Year of the Woman

Mural looms large

Ann Lewis, See Her, mural, Boston, Public Art, Year of the Woman

Detroit-based artist-activist Ann Lewis arrived in Boston in February 2017 with a mission burning in her heart and a big idea percolating in her head. A post-event account of how one artist, one organization, and one artwork is creating ripples of change that continue to affect lives today.

Ann Lewis, See Her, mural, Boston, Public Art, Year of the Woman

Public Art, mural, See Her, Ann Lewis

Engage, reflect, share. See Her now until October 2018.

Public Art, mural, See Her, Ann Lewis

It is proclaimed: Ann Lewis’ mural, See Her, is complete! Last week we were honored to have Mayor Marty Walsh and the City of Boston proclaim July 18 “See Her Day” in recognition of the project; the women who worked to make it a reality; and the vision of Ann and N+T to bring this piece to the city.

Public Art, mural, See Her, Ann Lewis

Public Art, See Her, Ann Lewis, mural, Year of the Woman, Boston, What it Takes

How did that get there?

Public Art, See Her, Ann Lewis, mural, Year of the Woman, Boston, What it Takes

A 9-step inside look at the sometimes wild and always rewarding work of creating public art as illustrated in Ann Lewis' new mural See Her.

Public Art, See Her, Ann Lewis, mural, Year of the Woman, Boston, What it Takes

Ann Lewis, See Her, Mural, Public Art, Boston, Mass Incarceration, Criminal Justice Reform, Community Resources for Justice

Art in Progress: "See Her" by Ann Lewis Bears Witness to the Humanity of Incarcerated Women

Ann Lewis, See Her, Mural, Public Art, Boston, Mass Incarceration, Criminal Justice Reform, Community Resources for Justice

An interview with Ann Lewis about her process working with the women at McGrath House and why creating this piece is important to her as an artist activist.

Ann Lewis, See Her, Mural, Public Art, Boston, Mass Incarceration, Criminal Justice Reform, Community Resources for Justice

Ann Lewis, mural, public art, boston, Year of the Woman, artist activist

Introducing Ann Lewis

Ann Lewis, mural, public art, boston, Year of the Woman, artist activist

2017 is Now + There’s Year of the Woman, and the female artists we’re supporting challenge the status quo, motivate change in communities, and
create thoughtful discussion through stunning visuals and programming. We're thrilled to introduce Now + There's next artist, Ann Lewis!

Ann Lewis, mural, public art, boston, Year of the Woman, artist activist

Feminism, feminist art, girl power, empowerment, public art, Boston public art, Ann Lewis

Year of the Woman

Feminism, feminist art, girl power, empowerment, public art, Boston public art, Ann Lewis

Since December 2016, we have enthusiastically supported five female artists – most who’d proudly declare themselves feminists – with financial and technical assistance in the early stages of their concepts for complex and large-scale projects.

Feminism, feminist art, girl power, empowerment, public art, Boston public art, Ann Lewis

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Ann Lewis’ practice takes the form of street murals, community organizing, curatorial projects, and site-specific installations. Her work is about motivating social change within communities and championing those who are disempowered. In early 2014, while based in New York City, Lewis garnered national media attention when she installed an oversized police tape banner that read ‘GENTRIFICATION IN PROGRESS’ at the former graffiti mecca 5 Pointz in Queens, New York. In the fall of 2015, she was asked by the Obama administration to exhibit her work at the White House to discuss equality and mass incarceration.

When women re-enter society after incarceration they must rely heavily on their creativity to overcome the legal barriers to employment, housing, and even reuniting with their families. They must also navigate judgement and the social stigmas placed on them by the community. With my work See Her I am asking the viewers to look past their presumptions and see the human, the woman looking back at them. We cannot face the challenge of mass incarceration without first recognizing the value of those entrenched in our criminal justice system. — ANN LEWIS

inside look

The mural, located at 808 Tremont St. in Boston is temporary and is set to last 16 - 18 months with normal weathering. The artist used a combination of spray paint, printed paper, and photographs to achieve a multi-layered, multi-dimensional work that will draw in viewers close up and from a distance.

Through her process of collaborative workshops, studio concepting, and artistic implementation the artist was exploring what lies ahead for the incarcerated women she worked with and questioning what choices can be made, by the women and by us all, to support their ability to grow into thriving members of our communities.