Blacklisted.

Blacklisted. is a publication I created in response to the ACLU’s work protecting artistic expression. It looks closely at how book bans and obscenity laws decide which stories are allowed to exist in the public eye and which ones are pushed into silence. The visual language leans into literary symbolism with heavy redaction textures, scorched type, and pages that slowly catch fire, showing how expression can disappear in both quiet and devastating ways. The project makes the danger feel personal, reminding viewers that when art is silenced, imagination and individuality shrink right along with it.

The cover uses tension and clarity as a pair. A menacingly redacted page sits on the front, while the back reveals the actual text underneath, showing how easily meaning gets twisted when context is taken away. Inside, the fire grows chapter by chapter until the final pages are unreadable, mirroring how quickly censorship escalates once it begins.

The poster series brings the message into public space by focusing on the emotional weight behind what is lost rather than the literal act of censorship. A small resistance pin in matchbox inspired packaging accompanies the publication, serving as a tiny spark of defiance and a reminder that expression can still survive even in restrictive environments. Together, the project encourages viewers to stay alert, stay curious, and protect the freedom to create.