Stephanie Syjuco

Stephanie Syjuco is an American visual artist and educator who works in photography, sculpture, and installation. By examining institutional, governmental, and museum archives, she focuses on how power manifests in visible and invisible ways in an attempt to “talk back” to official narratives. Born in the Philippines, she lives and works in Oakland, California.

By focusing on the very first word of the founding document, Syjuco’s medallion begs the question of timeliness: When are rights given, demanded, or declared; and when do rights remain unfulfilled despite their promise? When . . . is a highlight and a bright marker of possibility. As this nation’s ongoing democratic project celebrates its 250-year mark, Syjuco asks: What work still needs to be done, and for whom?