Love as Liberation

Love as Liberation is exhibition of paintings from a truly outstanding and talented Berkeley Law alum, Ximena Velázquez-Arenas ’23.

A year in the making, Ximena worked on these paintings over her 3L year of law school. In Ximena's own words, "The four paintings in this series examine the “ethic of love,” under the canon of scholar and activist bell hooks, and celebrate the power of healing and liberation from systems of domination."

I collaborated with Ximena throughout the development of this project, working closely with her to design and execute the vision for bringing it to life at the law school. This involved partnering with internal stakeholders and external vendors to oversee the installation and ensure every component was seamlessly integrated on the wall.

Public Mission Wall

The wall previously displayed outdated information that needed to be removed, and the COMMS team was tasked with creating a new installation. Collaborating with a committee, we explored various concepts—from a living wall to a projection—before deciding on a wall mural for its simplicity and longevity. Our goal was to highlight the public mission of Berkeley Law, and we ultimately featured five extraordinary leaders: Hon. Cruz Reynoso, Hon. Thelton Henderson, Elizabeth Cabraser, and Dale Minami. I brought in illustrator Ariel Sinha, whose work I deeply admire. Over the years, she has continued to partner with us, contributing to our brand development and shaping our visual identity.

Streetpole Banners

Around the same time as the Public Mission wall, we designed the streetpole banners displayed outside the school. These banners, created in collaboration with illustrator Ariel Sinha, featured a mix of influential alumni from both recent and earlier generations, paired with their words. The handwritten text was personally crafted by me, adding a unique and personal touch to the design.