Courtyard Gallery: Artist Amber Aguirre presents “Marginalized: Portraits in Identity and Sign,” an exhibition of busts representing individuals who have been excluded from mainstream society due to their differences from the dominant white/heterosexual/christian/male majority that holds the power in our society.
Artist’s Talk: Thursday, September 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Opening Reception: First Friday, September 4 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Reimagining one of Western art's oldest traditions, the exhibition reclaims the portrait bust (a form historically reserved to commemorate society's most honored figures) to celebrate individuals whose lives have been shaped by exclusion because they differ from the social and cultural norms that have historically held power and privilege. Rather than defining her subjects by the barriers they have faced, Aguirre highlights the empathy, courage, wisdom, and resilience that have emerged from their lived experiences, inviting viewers to reconsider who we choose to honor and what those choices reveal about our culture.
Each sculpture incorporates the American Sign Language sign representing one aspect of the subject's marginalized identity. ASL was chosen intentionally because it is itself a language that has long experienced marginalization, reflecting the exhibition's broader themes of visibility, recognition, and inclusion.
"Marginalized is ultimately about seeing people," says Aguirre. "It is about recognizing the dignity, strength, and humanity of individuals whose voices have too often been overlooked. I hope these sculptures invite viewers to reflect not only on the lives of the people portrayed, but also on our shared responsibility to create a more compassionate and inclusive world."
Aguirre's own life has profoundly influenced her artistic vision. The daughter of a Holocaust survivor, she grew up with an awareness of the lasting consequences of prejudice and discrimination. Later, after surviving a catastrophic injury and undergoing a leg amputation, she gained a deeply personal understanding of resilience and transformation. These experiences continue to inform her work, which explores universal themes of vulnerability, endurance, hope, and the human condition.
Aguirre earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree in art education from San Francisco State University before teaching ceramics in California public schools. She relocated to Hawaiʻi in 2001 to pursue her studio practice full time. Today, her sculptures are represented by leading ceramic galleries and are exhibited and collected throughout the United States and internationally.
Visitors to Marginalized are invited to consider how identity shapes human experience while recognizing the extraordinary courage it takes to live authentically in a society that often pressures individuals to conform. Through sculpture, Aguirre encourages conversations about empathy, belonging, and our shared humanity.
Click the image above to read an interview with Amber Aguirre on Hawaii Public Radio: “Exhibit in Downtown Honolulu spotlights the artwork of marginalized communities”
Artwork: Sculpture by Amber Aguirre of U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono signing "woman" in American Sign Language
