“What Lived And Died Between Us Haunts Me” is Julianna Sanromán’s debut solo exhibition of paintings, presented on October 19, reflecting her experience as a first-generation Latinx immigrant and artist working in Southwest Detroit.
Julianna’s ink and acrylic paintings feel both familiar and very personal at the same time, drawing on her memories to explore what family, community, loss, and grief mean in her life, turning everyday experiences into a deeply personal story. Her work captures the tangled emotions, unseen struggles, and the lasting impact of deportation that still haunt her decades later.
The exhibition reflects on lineage, displacement, and longing, grounded in the artist’s connection to Southwest Detroit and the stories of loved ones left behind. Through memories, places, and sensations—homes, smells, foods, colors, and voices—Sanromán documents the tenderness of the immigrant experience and the emotional landscapes shaped by movement, separation, and resilience.
“What Lived And Died Between Us Haunts Me” brings visibility to stories of immigration and displacement, centering the humanness of these experiences and creating space for reflection and conversation within the community. The exhibition highlights how these social realities ripple across families and neighborhoods, while honoring the people, histories, and homes that continue to exist through memory.
I paint because I have to; the deep grief in my heart wasn’t meant to be the focus; it just came out that way, unexpectedly and organically.” – Julianna Sanromán
About the Artist
Julianna Sanromán is an interdisciplinary artist from Southwest Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, currently working in Metro Detroit. Her artwork focuses on themes of love, pain, and remembrance intricately woven throughout their pieces that reflect a rich tapestry of experiences. Through vibrant colors and delicate transparencies, they encapsulate the essence of their journey, reflecting on the passage of time and the enduring power of memory.
She is a recipient of the Emerging Artist Fellowship 2024, which provides financial support and professional mentorship for artists to develop their individual practices and identifies, elevates and promotes Detroit-based artistic excellence.
