I brought this drawing, “Death To the Dictator”, to IlluXCon 2022. Like most of my work, when I look at it, I remember where I was or what was happening at the time, perhaps down to what music I was listening to. All of my work is freighted with meaning for me, it becomes a sticky note of my space in the world, an artifact bearing witness to my thinking at the time.

As I was working on this piece, I was listening to news coverage of the political unrest in Iran. The youth shouting “Women, Life, Freedom!” and “Death to the dictator!” was shocking. Iran’s had a theocracy for nearly 40 years and it’s super interesting to see that this generation has finally had a bellyful and the people are exercising their collective power to protest despite injury, imprisonment, and death. It’s a hopeful sign that oppressive regimes are being rejected in favor of democratic and secular norms. As we go to the polls today in the US, my hopes are high for us too.

Edit: Prints are now available for this work at ImageKind.com. f you’re interested in purchasing the original drawing, please visit my shop.