Experience the evocative photography of Michele Ashlee-Meade in this powerful exhibit. Each portrait reveals the humanity behind faces that many have overlooked, inviting reflection and deeper connection.

“how can you still love me?”

Opening Reception october 16, 2024

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Department of Neurology (5.4300)

exhibit runs October 14 - December 31 gallery hours Monday - Friday 11-4

Artist Statement:

For over a decade, Michele Ashlee-Meade has been driven by the desire to give a face to the faceless. With her camera, she unveils the humanity of the unhoused, the displaced, and those living with mental illness—individuals whose stories are often ignored. Her work isn’t just about capturing images; it's about offering a platform to voices silenced by society’s indifference. Inspired by photographers like Marcia Resnick and Lee Jeffries, Ashlee-Meade has honed her craft, skillfully revealing raw emotion and personal stories that resonate on a deeply human level.

“My goal is to foster vulnerability and show that each story, no matter how difficult, can inspire and guide others toward compassion. These are stories of resilience and shared humanity.”

Exhibit Title:

Ten years ago, my life changed forever during the longest, darkest night I’ve ever known. As I sat beside my son’s hospital bed after a long ambulance ride, I struggled to find comfort in a stiff chair. My son, battling the relentless grip of addiction, woke with shame in his eyes.

“How can you still love me?” he asked. My love never faltered. I reassured him that no matter the struggle—be it addiction, depression, or hardship—there is no shame in being human. That night, I made a promise: I would use my art to extend compassion to those who feel broken, sharing their stories to remind them they are never alone.

These are the Faces of Healing—the stories of people in search of restoration, resilience, and hope. Through my lens, I capture the beauty of human healing, even in its most vulnerable forms.

the work