The Artwork
Shades of Labor
2026
Installation
Gloria Molina Grand Park
March 29 – May 2, 2026
Shades of Labor is a public art installation created by Hedy Torres. The installation consists of seven large-scale umbrellas, each symbolizing one of the states most affected by ICE raids: Texas, California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Florida, and Georgia. Each umbrella features a shared base text printed on the underside, and the canopy is divided into eight triangular sections. Each section is individually screen-printed with images of artworks created by Hedy Torres over recent years, focusing on street vendors. Alongside these images, each triangle carries text combining immigration facts and motivational quotes. The umbrellas draw inspiration from the vibrant aesthetic of street vendors, celebrating communities that are often marginalized yet play a vital role in the cultural and economic life of Los Angeles.
The installation serves as visual representation of resilience, transforming harsh sunlight into spaces of shade, rest, and reflection. It also acts as metaphoric shelter, encouraging conversation and inspiring awareness of immigrant struggles, while offering hope and reminding visitors that challenges, like storms, eventually pass.
Hedy Torres is a Mexican-born artist based in Los Angeles, who immigrated to the United States in 2006. Her early experience working as a street vendor deeply shaped her practice, inspiring a focus on the stories of immigrants and street vendors whose labor and resilience often go unrecognized. Through her art practice, she explores the broader immigrant experience, centering narratives that are frequently overlooked and honoring the cultural contributions of her communities.
Torres holds a Master of Arts in Painting and Drawing from California State University, Northridge. She has presented solo exhibitions including Serve Somebody at Seis Gallery and Soy, De Aquí Y Allá (I Am from Here and There) at Olympic Club in Santa Monica, both in 2023. Her work has also been featured in group exhibitions at venues such as Charlie James Gallery, Brea Gallery, and Band of Vices.
Torres is a recipient of 2026 The Arts Commission of West Hollywood, 2024 IOS Willie Stoffer Visual Artist Grant, and has received support from the California Arts Council, The Center of Cultural Power, JarriTODOS, and Eastside Art Initiative. Through her work, Torres fosters empathy and deeper understanding of immigrant experiences in Los Angeles.