Paula Maria Persiani’s MFA thesis exhibition honors the vibrant life of her late Afro-Puerto Rican great-uncle, Rafael Angel Lazen (Ralph), a proud member of New York City’s LGBTQ community in the 1960s and 70s. Through paintings and archival photographs, Persiani reimagines Ralph’s world as both a personal tribute and a testament to queer resilience, inviting viewers to witness moments of connection, defiance, and self-expression. These works were displayed at 80 Washington Square East, located in the Project Space.