You’re invited to step into Breaking the Silence on Gender-Based Violence, an exhibit curated by NJ Mvondo in the Robert T. Matsui Gallery at City Hall (915 I Street). Opened June 20 through the City’s Emerging Curators Fellowship, this exhibition offers a welcoming space—free and open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM—until September 17, 2025.

Part of the City of Sacramento’s Emerging Curators Fellowship, Breaking the Silence is a communal act of care, resistance, and truth-telling. This exhibit centers the lived experiences of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV)—a crisis that affects every corner of our communities but is too often silenced or ignored.

Discover resilience in Lauren Baggett’s Kintsugi Collection, where the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold reveals beauty born from healing, and in Pata Salada’s intimate, evocative pieces that invite reflection on survival, memory, and transformation.

“This exhibit was curated with intention and deep respect for the courage of survivors,” says NJ Mvondo, curator and founder of the Interactive Healing Arts Project. “Art is more than a product made for our entertainment or consumption. Art makes space for unveiling but also truth-telling, for grieving but also for comfort, and for collective healing, organizing, and mutual accountability.”

“As a survivor of gender-based violence, i have been a beneficiary of the transformative healing power of art. Art can hold what words often cannot. This exhibit is a communal act of care during turbulent times; it honors the voices of survivors and reminds us that healing is possible when we choose to hold space, listen intentionally, and act together.”

Breaking the Silence pays tribute to communities whose experiences with gender-based violence are often marginalized or erased, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Black women, trans and nonbinary survivors, and those impacted by intimate partner violence.

The exhibit also honors the service providers, advocates, and healers who walk alongside survivors every day and continue to build pathways toward justice and care.

Join the Conversation

The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular City Hall hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Gather with us for a reception on Friday, August 29, 2025, 12 PM–1 PM, to meet Lauren and NJ, share your thoughts, and connect with fellow community members.

About the Emerging Curators Fellowship
Administered by the City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture, this year-long program empowers an emerging curator to present two exhibitions under the guidance of a seasoned mentor.

About NJ Mvondo
An immigrant from France and Cameroon, NJ Mvondo is an artist, social entrepreneur, and advocate for social justice, cultural diversity, and environmental sustainability. She leads the Interactive Healing Arts Project–a partner of the wxhibit, founded Multiculturalism Rocks LLC, and serves on the Yolo Arts board.