Exhibit Dates: June 17 – September 27, 2026
Exhibit Location: MLK Library, Floor 5
Diasporacity is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
About the Curator
Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah (@lailajadallah) is a seasoned cultural administrator and curator with extensive experience working in museums, local and international governmental entities, private companies and nonprofits. With over fifteen years of experience, her portfolio of work includes executive leadership, major exhibitions and public art installations, transnational exchange and partnerships, and interdisciplinary programming. Laila has worked with numerous museums, cultural institutions and artists in the U.S., Middle East and Europe.
About the Artists
Andrea Limauro (@andrealimauro) is an Italian-born artist, city planner and climate resilience expert based in Washington, D.C. Through paintings, murals, public art and writing, Andrea’s work examines nationalistic and religious narratives, colonialism and oppression, gun violence, climate change and human’s interaction with nature. Andrea’ s art has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Washington, D.C., New York, Vienna and Rome and included in public and private art collections like the US State Department's Art in Embassies Program and the Earth Commons Institute.
Helen Zughaib (@hzughaib) was born in Beirut, Lebanon, living mostly in the Middle East and Europe before coming to the United States to study art at Syracuse University, earning her BFA from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Helen currently lives and works in Washington, D.C., as an artist. She paints primarily in gouache and ink on board and canvas. More recently, she has worked with wood, shoes, cloth and glass in mixed media installations. Her work has been widely exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States, Europe, and Lebanon.
MasPaz (@maspaz) is a Colombian born multidisciplinary artist, based in Washington DC. He is known for his distinctive street murals that explore topics of earth preservation and indigenous peoples. His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the US and Latin America and his larger murals can be found in streets and spaces internationally. Mas Paz means ‘more peace’ in Spanish, a message he strives to embrace through art and philanthropy.
Meron Engida Hawke (@meronengidahawke) was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and lives and works in Washington D.C. She creates vibrant tableaus that act as a vehicle for exploring the artist’s personal experiences and Ethiopian cultural identity. Through trust in the mark-making process, Engida Hawke has developed a rich visual vocabulary that draws influence from the colors and narratives of ancient Ethiopian art.
Related Event
Diasporacity Exhibit Tour & Workshop with Featured Artists
Saturday, July 25 | 1:00-3:30 p.m. | MLK Library
1:00 - 2:00: Join us for a special tour with remarks by participating artists.The tour will meet on the fifth floor, near the SE stairwell near the introduction to the exhibit.
2:00- 3:30 p.m. Artist Workshop Workshop: Put Your Feet in Their Shoes with Helen Zughaib
Participants will have the opportunity to create their own hand-painted shoes inspired by stories of migration and home. The workshop is about communicating empathy for vulnerable children and their families fleeing their homes and crossing borders seeking safety and a better life. These are dangerous journeys and create much hardship for them along the way. The workshop is appropriate for ages 8 and up. All materials will be provided.
Note: Registration for the tour is not required; advance registration is recommended for the artist workshop from 2:00-3:30 pm as space is limited to 20 people. Please register at the link at left to reserve your place.