“They Tried to Bury Us” is a powerful visual story of resilience, resistance, and transformation. Centered on a raised fist emerging from deep roots, the artwork reclaims struggle as a source of growth—where what was meant to suppress instead becomes the foundation for renewal. Surrounded by vibrant, blooming forms, the piece reflects life rising from darkness, strength from collective memory, and beauty from resistance.

This design was commissioned for Monica Curca by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and was the featured banner at the Black Lives Matter March in 2021.

The phrase “they tried to bury us, but they did not know we were seeds” is originally a Zapatista declaration but it anchors the work in a timeless truth: what is planted in oppression can still grow into liberation. Rooted in symbolic storytelling and bold, folk-inspired design, the composition speaks to movements that endure, adapt, and rise.

Printed on high-quality 13 x 19 glossy cardstock, this poster adds depth, color, and meaning to any space. Both grounding and uplifting, it embodies a vision of collective power that cannot be buried.

This artwork is an offering:

A reminder that even in the darkest soil, we are still growing.