Artist, activist, and educator Kate DeCiccio believes that art can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, for resistance, and for building relationships and community. One of her poster creations was highly visible at the Women’s March on Washington, to which she also brought a large artwork in her continuing series addressing the effects of police brutality. Learn more about DeCiccio in our video profile.

DeCiccio brings her background as an educator and a mental health and substance abuse counselor to her current work as an artist-activist, which she says “is driven by my interests in equity, mental health, humor, community building, and of course a passion for the activity of art-making.” Recent series include her Black Lives Matter posters, which feature portraits of parents who have lost children to police brutality, and murals created in collaboration with young people in their communities. As an educator and art advocate, she has done extensive work among incarcerated and institutionalized youths and adults. Much of her work focuses on themes of deconstructing the prison industrial system and building communities. 

She says, “In communities where people really understand art as a social tool, we see healthier, happier, more engaged people.”

Join DeCiccio at the March—click on the image below to watch our Creative Voices video.

You can download DeCiccio’s Embracing Eachother poster and other artwork from the Amplifier Foundation website. Learn more about their mission and then click on Free Downloads for posters, stencils, GIFs, and more.