Zahyr Lauren; The Artist L.Haz’s Black Interstellar Hazmats

Zahyr Lauren, also known as The Artist L.Haz, is a former attorney and human rights investigator who began drawing in 2015. Since then, they have used their practice to transform trauma so as not to transmit it, to educate people about the black experience, and to elevate the legacy of Black brilliance and ingenuity in America.

Each garment and print that you see was originally hand drawn by The Artist.

The Artist is proud to come from a powerful, southern black matriarchy that migrated from Oklahoma and Mississippi to the west with nothing, and made something for generations to come.

In honor of their heritage, The Artist has created a series of hazmat suits. These suits serve to protect Black interstellars (Black Space Beings) during their visits to earth. Each hazmat is a storied garment that a Black interstellar can wear on earth as protection from police bullets, hate based abuse, illnesses created by environmental racism, redlining, and other hauntings and misfortunes born of systemic racism. They were chosen for this window in honor of the deep humanstory of Black Americans in the 1960s who led the Woolworth sit-ins. They braved harassment, abuse, and death threats due to their desegregation efforts nationwide. These suits would have protected them.

My ask of you… imagine everyone at the sit-ins dressed in these suits. Sitting in protest. Imagine the power.