In Our Eyes
The Faces of Healthcare Workers
During the Covid-19 Pandemic
“In Our Eyes” is a photograph collection created by Katie Hartley as the thesis work for her Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art at American University in 2022. The collection, which includes almost 500 images, features selfies taken by healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic (between 2020 and 2021). Through text messages, emails, and social media posts, Hartley gathered images of friends, family, coworkers, and strangers from around the world. Providing her own selfie as an example, she provided few instructions.
With each image, healthcare workers from various countries, roles, and backgrounds offer solidarity through intimate moments of pain and resilience. Katie found an unexpected community in these photos, humbled to hear their stories and feel part of each person’s journey. By displaying these images, caregivers can feel seen and cared for.
A selection of 107 images from the collection were exhibited as part of “in-position,” the 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition at American University, seen below.
Panoramic view of the installation at the Katzen Art Center at American University, 2022. Photo by Dylan Singleton.
For installation at the Katzen Art Center, the photographs were printed on 20lb bond paper using a large-scale inkjet plotter. All images were printed at 12” height with variable widths and displayed in a grid pattern.
A selection of 23 images from the “In Our Eyes” collection will be on permanent view in the University of California Irvine’s Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences Hall as part of “Viral Integration,” a group exhibition celebrating art created around the topic of health following the pandemic. More information about the show can be found here.
Submissions are always open. Send your selfie to Katie at katiehartleyart@gmail.com.
