Wing of Resilience

When a community comes together, it heals as one.

Standing 15 feet tall at the entrance of Mercado Central on Lake Street in Minneapolis, Wing of Resilience is a public sculpture I created and donated as a gift to the community. Conceived in the aftermath of the George Floyd uprising, the work is both a memorial and a call to healing.

Mercado Central is a vibrant cooperative marketplace that has been a cornerstone of the Latinx community since 1999. Home to more than 30 locally owned businesses — from restaurants and bakeries to artisan shops and cultural services — it is a gathering place where families, artists, and entrepreneurs come together to celebrate heritage and support one another.

The sculpture honors the pain and loss that shook Minneapolis while also uplifting the strength, perseverance, and unity that emerged from it. Its soaring wing form symbolizes our collective ability to rise above adversity, transforming grief into resilience and moving forward with dignity and hope.

By placing Wing of Resilience at Mercado Central, I wanted to root this message of strength in a place that already embodies community, culture, and survival. Today, the sculpture stands as both a beacon of healing and a testament to the power of art to bring people together during times of struggle and transformation.