In 2015, Baiqu Gonkar founded Art Represent, a nonprofit enterprise that empowers artists affected by conflict to make positive change in the world.

Born in Tibet and growing up in London, Baiqu’s own experiences as a refugee profoundly shaped her, and instilled in her a great sense of social responsibility.

During moments of upheaval, art and culture are put on the backbench. But the arts play a vital role among the complex, competing agendas related to conflict.

We want to find a way to shift the conversation from us and them to a collective We. Unbound by geography, language and culture, we know that art has the power to inspire and unite.

We use art to represent those whose voices are not heard. Our platform forms a bridge between people by connecting them on an emotional level as human beings — to draw out our similarities more than our differences.