Hidden in a forest. High in Anghiari’s hills. A lone artist’s studio.

One Spring day, a counselor to the UN President of the General Assembly walked inside. He was stunned by the sculptures and the portraits...

A theme was chosen – the Transformative Power of Art. Inspiring figures. Artists, exiles, former prisoners, activists...

All who used their art to raise consciousness.

Flash forward. On the 70th anniversary of the first convening of the United Nations General Assembly...

And these artist activists stared at each delegate entering the newly restored General Assembly Hall...

Then, from the East River in Manhattan, the portraits crossed town, invited by NYU’s Casa Italiana for another exhibition.

To touch and inspire. To nudge and provoke.

To remind us of the power to change—to stand up to bigotry and hate, violence and heartlessness.

To rise above the sordid politics of the day.

To act, to be counted, and above all, to play our role. — Terence Ward