Presented in partnership with Photoville, New York Proud is a public art project developed collaboratively by the New York Immigration Coalition and F.Y. Eye. The initiative features work from documentary photographer Oscar B. Castillo and reaffirms the indispensable role of immigrants in shaping New York City’s identity through a living and growing collection of portraits and stories. It serves as a reminder that immigrants are not only integral to our past but essential to our future, driving innovation, creativity, and progress in every corner of our city. By centering these narratives, New Yorkers are encouraged to reflect and recognize the essential contributions of immigrants, ensuring our city remains a beacon of pride and progress.

Oscar B. Castillo is a documentary photographer, multimedia artist and educator born in Caracas, Venezuela. His work as a photographer focuses on social subjects related to youth, identity, migration, the cycles of political rupture and violence and the initiatives for inclusion and community empowerment.

Castillo’s work has been widely published by major media such as TIME Magazine, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Le Monde, and The Wall Street Journal. It has also been exhibited internationally and recognized by awards, grants, and fellowships from Eugene Smith Grant, Magnum Foundation, Diane Dammeyer Foundation, Onassis Foundation, World Press Photo, Aperture / Paris Photo, Tim Hetherington Visionary Award, amongst others.

The artist’s collaborative photobook “Esos Que Saben” about youth, incarceration and reinsertion in Venezuela, has been recognized by Mention of Honor at PhotoEspaña 2023, Shortlist Aperture / Paris Photo 2022, 20 Photobooks of the Year 2022 by TIME Magazine and is part of the photobook collection at the MoMA.

Currently Castillo is working on the Borders Cruzadas Project about different aspects of migration to the United States.