Steven Blum (American, b. 1970)

El Sueño Americano (The American Dream), 2025
Found/printed posters and paper, acrylic paint on mortar board
Courtesy of the artist 

A tribute honoring the artist’s mother, Susana Roditi Blum, utilizing a portrait from her quinceañera in Havana, Cuba, February 1954, and created in the style of Shepard Fairey’s Obama Hope poster.

Susana’s father fled anti-Semitism in Turkey and found refuge in Cuba, where he met his wife, who had escaped the Nazi regime in Poland. Together, they built a life in Cuba, raising their daughter Susana along with her two sisters and two brothers. Shortly after her quinceañera, Susana fled political unrest in Cuba and sought a new beginning in New York City.

In New York, Susana met her husband, a hardworking taxi driver, and together they raised their family in Flushing, Queens. Despite the challenges of working in a sweatshop with poor conditions, Susana persevered, taking government and state exams to secure better employment. She dedicated her career to helping others, rising to the position of supervisor at the unemployment office.

Susana and her husband instilled the values of hard work, education, and perseverance in their four children, all of whom graduated college and built successful careers and families. This artwork exemplifies “El Sueño Americano” (the American Dream) and pays tribute to Susana Roditi Blum’s unwavering spirit and resilience.

This piece holds particular significance as it serves as a powerful reminder of the positive impact immigrants have on society. Susana’s story is a testament to the resilience and contributions of immigrants, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding in the face of adversity.

The artist, deeply moved by the stories of individuals who must leave their birthplace due to dire circumstances, created this piece to honor the courage and determination of those who embark on such journeys. This portrait serves as a reminder of the strength and perseverance required to build a new life in a foreign land, the incredible contributions immigrants make to their new communities, and the powerful aesthetics that develop as a result of mingling cultures.