Drawing on the historic use of portraiture as an expression of the status and importance of the individual portrayed, the Say Her Name portrait series aims to value, study, commemorate, and portray the faces of Black women and girls who have suffered and died because of the prevalent discrimination against people of color in our country, specifically by police. This set of portraits brings awareness and recognition to the faces and stories of 5 women and one 7-year-old girl, and it places the events of each person’s life and death into the broader context of the systems that enable this violence to become so tragically commonplace.

Each original portrait done in watercolor and ink is an act of recognizing and honoring the individual and mourning for the unjust loss of their life. This series is a call for justice and action, while also an expression of heartache, outrage, and solidarity with people of color who continually face discrimination and violence in our society.

Hannah L. Bell received her BFA in Studio Art from Houghton College, with focuses in painting and ceramics. Originally from Canada, she spent her childhood living in the South Pacific, giving her a love for travel and deep appreciation for other cultures. Her current artistic practice focuses on commissioned portraits of pets and people; which gives her the opportunity to explore the beauty, variety, and value of individuals in her community. Hannah lives in Webster, NY with her husband and their two cats.