Three monuments to immigrants in New Jersey: artists honor labor and migration

Three new public monuments dedicated to immigrants and migrant workers were inaugurated this summer in the U.S. state of New Jersey, as part of the “New Jersey Monuments to Migration and Labor” (NJMML) initiative, as Hyperallergic reports.

The monumental outdoor works were created by artists Michelle Angela Ortiz, Chat Travieso and Immanuel Oni, through consultations with more than 1,000 community members, according to the project’s organizers. Their strategic placement in the north, center and south of New Jersey reflects the specific cultural experiences of the main demographic groups represented in each region.

Ortiz’s work, the pavilion “Carriers of Light and Labor” (2026), is installed outside Paterson City Hall and honors two immigrant families — the Nouri brothers and the Fattal family — who have become well-known food retailers in Paterson.

“I think the three monuments are distinguished by an awareness that celebration and reflection, which the pieces encourage, are not just secondary pursuits that can be sacrificed during times of crisis,” the NJMML project director, Andrew Urban, said in a statement, also praising the community’s willingness to share “their extremely personal stories” as immigrants and workers.

The NJMML initiative is part of the Mellon Foundation’s “Monuments Project”. The installations will also be accompanied by a symposium at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum, on Friday, October 16.