Portraits of Gratitude is an ongoing multimedia project that highlights the enduring legacy of my late mother, Becca Rosenberg, whose life was defined by her compassion for those around her and her dedication to her role as a doctor, mother, aunt, daughter, neighbor, and friend.
When my mother passed away in September of 2023, I struggled to reconcile that while she had known me my whole life, I had only known her for a fraction of hers. I was afraid that I would never be able to fully understand who she was as a person. However, the outpouring of community support after her death revealed her profound influence on others' lives - from finding the perfect gift for a friend to driving hospital hygiene initiatives at work.
To better understand her legacy, I interviewed her closest friends, who enthusiastically recounted how her kindness, empathy, and support had shaped their lives. This is Portraits of Gratitude, a project that depicts the enduring impact of my mother's life through handwritten notes overlaid on photographs of the participants.
"I often imagine thanking you for all the ways you sweetened my life: for dropping off surprise challahs and babkas, for taking so much joy in Asher and saying he was 'so coots', for the times you took care of us, and the times you shared your stories, for how you felt like family even though I'd only known you a few years. And then I imagine you walking up the stairs as you wave off my words - because you never did it for the 'thank you'." - Dana R.
"Tu fuiste mi mejor amiga por todo; lo amo que trabaje contigo, te voy a tener en mi corazon para siempre; gracias por tenerme en tu vida." - Patsy B.
You were my best friend through everything; I loved working with you, I will hold you in my heart forever; thank you for having me in your life.
"To my dear friend, / Shine in brilliance / Surrounded by family / Dance in joy / Always / Ride your dedicated passion / For a better world. / Thank you for living life out loud / For weaving this fabric of love / Which you have masterfully left / Holding all of us." - Jill E.
"Becca, you saw the best in me, the best I could be. But I am not alone. I think you saw the best in everyone, + made them believe it too. You nurtured our potential + made us our best selves. You celebrated each of us, and never drew attention to yourself. Your extraordinary accomplishments often went under the radar, and this frustrated me. Because you deserved more credit or recognition. But that never bothered you. Your focus was on the task/mission: make things better + heal people. I hope you understood how incredibly substantial your impact was. In fact, it still lives on. I miss you everyday."
Laila Copeland is a 16-year-old photographer based out of Brooklyn, New York. Family and friends are both major parts of her life, and she’s been photographing both for as long as she can remember. She uses photography to reflect on interpersonal relationships, specifically the emotional bond between an artist, their subjects, and the viewer. As an artist, she aims to use grief, joy, and pain to express how the most fundamental part of living is the love that one has for others. This is her first formal exhibition.
This project was created as part of the Future Imagemakers program in the NYU Department of Photography and Imaging at Tisch School of the Arts in Spring 2024. To see all the 2024 Future Imagemakers projects, click here.