Elizabeth Juarez
Please get sober
499 empty lighters, 1 filled
2025

In this conceptual piece, Juarez utilized graphic design with soft pink, cursive text to convey a stark message: “Please get sober.” As a woman who grew up around addicts and struggled with addiction herself, Juarez has found that there is not always a gentle way to say the words necessary to help oneself or someone else. “Please get sober” serves as a response to the growing number of individuals battling addiction, particularly in California and within the marijuana industry.

While Juarez believes marijuana can be beneficial in certain circumstances, she has witnessed how it can grip her own life and the lives of loved ones, fostering complacency and limiting their ability to reach their fullest potential. Grounded in her belief that awareness leads to change, the 499 empty lighters in the piece symbolize the numerous attempts she made to quit smoking, while the single remaining lighter represents her success. For Juarez, healing is not always linear, but the commitment to keep trying remains essential.