Unhoused & Unseen: Our “Invisible” Neighbors

In partnership with Broad Street Love (BSL), a community space for those experiencing deep poverty, Lisa Hendrickson created a series of mixed media paintings that capture the humanity of an often overlooked population; those who are unhoused. Through thoughtful portraits and interviews with guests that BSL serves, Hendrickson invites viewers to examine their compassion and connection to those experiencing scarcity. Unhoused & Unseen: Our “Invisible Neighbors” challenges the greater Philadelphia community to advocate for critical support in areas such as affordable housing, successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, substance abuse counseling, mental health support, and immigration assistance.

Central to the exhibition are the one-on-one interviews Hendrickson conducted with BSL guests. These individuals shared their stories of childhood, how they became housing-challenged, and their hidden talents. Based on these interviews, portraits were created with a focus on eye contact, closely cropped compositions and strong lighting to create intimate, almost invasive pieces. Many of the works incorporate unconventional materials including cardboard, newsprint, paper bags, and cork revealing the beauty of ordinary, “invisible” or discarded materials. In addition, the exhibition shines a spotlight on the increasing legislation targeting those who are housing challenged by criminalizing sleeping or camping in public spaces.

As a long-time volunteer with Broad Street Love, Hendrickson has gained an understanding of issues facing the housing-challenged and food-insecure communities in Philadelphia. BSL provides social services that go beyond the traditional norms offering a secure mail service, hot meals, trauma-informed casework support, clothing & personal hygiene items, legal advice, and medical care. “By offering radical hospitality to our neighbors in need, Broad Street Love creates connection and community, restores hope and dignity, and increases security and self-sufficiency.” Simple acts, such as making eye contact with someone experiencing homelessness, acknowledge their presence and help them feel seen in a world that is often blind to those less fortunate.

Lisa Hendrickson, a former apparel industry executive turned figurative painter, grew up in suburban Chicago. Experimenting with oil paint and mixed media, she visually tells the stories of people and places she has experienced. Heavily influenced by human expression, her work strives to capture the mood and emotion of the moment. She paints people and places with interesting features which reflect their rich histories and lived experiences. The process of creation inspires her to experiment with textural techniques including work with palette knives, mixed media collages, stencils, and metallic paint. In connection with her community volunteer work, she creates artwork to raise awareness about the societal issues of homelessness, gun violence, and gender equality.

Unhoused and Unseen will be on view in Gallery 2 at Da Vinci Art Alliance starting October 3 until October 20. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, October 5, from 4 – 7 pm.