Quilts exist at the intersection of art and stories, blending form and function. The Migrant Quilt Project, like the AIDS Memorial Quilt, provides a unique way to explore the complex interplay of social, political, and emotional dimensions of a hot-button topic in America and beyond.

This 18-piece collection memorializes the immigrants who have died crossing the Arizona desert each year since 2000. Materials for the quilts were collected from migrant layup sites—places used for rest and shelter along established trails in the Sonoran Desert. Every individual’s name is inscribed on the quilt, with the word unknown or desconocido marking unidentified remains.

CHAW hosted part of the exhibition at Capitol Hill Lutheran Church of the Reformation and collaborated with Congressional Hispanic Caucus to bring part of the exhibition to the Longwood House Office building for a viewing by Members of Congress and staff.

The exhibit was created to increase awareness through visual storytelling about the challenges immigrants face when coming to the United States and to promote a deeper understanding of their lived experiences. By engaging viewers in this collective reflection, the project aims to foster greater empathy and positively influence the way people treat one another.