Portraits from the Lab centers the often-invisible psychological and emotional experiences of people who work with animals in research laboratories.

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The project invited individuals with firsthand experience in animal research to write a personal reflection about an animal—or animals—they worked with, focusing not only on the relationship they shared, but also on the psychological harm, moral distress, or ethical conflict they experienced as a result of their work.

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These reflections were shared with ten professional artists who created original portraits inspired by both the animals and the lab workers' internal experiences. Additionally, each artist contributed an artist statement reflecting on the lab worker's story, their creative process, and the meaning behind the finished piece.​

 

Together, the stories, artwork, and artist statements illuminate not only the individuality of the animals, but also the emotional weight, tension, and lasting impact carried by the humans who cared for them.​​