Can't find the words?
Talk about dissent art.
The Breathin’ Room is a collaborative 60-minute art experience where you stand in community with others to face dissent art that transforms grievances into relatable symbols, sounds, and narratives. Participants and the featured artist engage in productive dialogue to better understand complex issues—before and long after time runs out.
Breathin' Rooms by BIPOC Artists
We are proud to work with BIPOC artists across America who are producing dissent art that challenges systems of oppression. Our collective goal is to offer Breathin' Room experiences that:
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provide powerful visual commentary,
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act as a vital tool for dialogue,
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inspire collective action, and
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hold societies accountable.
All experiences are guided by spoken word docents and culminate in an open and honest conversation with the featured artist.
seangarrison presents
Stop Me When I'm Lying
This Breathin' Room, featuring contemporary dissent art of seangarrison, delivers a radical act of truth telling that confronts history, identity, and resilience. "It's our duty to add to the public discourse of what needs to be corrected within our society."
Estéban Whiteside presents
Concrete Oppressionism
This Breathin' Room, featuring folk dissent art of Estéban Whiteside, contains direct, political messages, leaving little room for interpretation. “I want the right people to love it, and if you feel guilty that’s probably how you’re supposed to feel about it.”
Brit Sigh presents
Frankly Speaking
This Breathin' Room, featuring nostalgic dissent art of Brit Sigh, transforms a familiar childhood icon into quiet statements of resistance. "I make protest work the same way I make my fantasy work by reimagining the world I wish Black kids could grow up in."
House Rules for Productive Dialogue
Before entering any breathin' room, we ask every participant to agree to follow the nine house rules that will guide everyone's behavior during the dialogue. It's part of the role of the docent to guide and remind the group of the rules for the discussions to thrive. (Source: Committee of Seventy)
Listen. It's as important as talking.
Make room for everyone to speak.
Disagreement is fine.
Try to build on each other's idea.
Ask clarifying questions to understand.
Consider the possibility that your information may be incomplete.
Who is not in the room? What might they say?
Be honest, but never mean.
One more time: Listen
Talk the Talk &
Shop the Shop
We believe dissent art is crucial for challenging power, fostering social consciousness, and building movements.
Together, let’s not only reframe dialogue as dissent, but also view patronage of burdened artists as revolutionary. Artists need breathin' room too!
Private Room Add-ons
We believe Breathin' Rooms are entry points to foster connection and begin healing during chaotic times.
After private room experiences, we can help teams, organizations, and communities continue to navigate complex, uncertain situations by observing patterns, interpreting them, and taking immediate and actionable steps. Creative action is your dissent art!
We believe dissent art is crucial for challenging power, fostering social consciousness, and building movements. Together, let’s reframe dialogue as dissent and patronage of burdened artists as revolutionary.
Artists need Breathin' Room too!
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© 2026 The Breathin' Room LLC. All rights reserved.
All images of dissent art and artists may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the respective artist.