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.” Growing up around addiction and experiencing addiction firsthand, Juarez found that there is not always a gentle way to say the words necessary to help oneself or someone else.

The 499 empty lighters represent the struggles she has experienced with sobriety, while the single full lighter represents the hope of eventually succeeding. The work is intentionally direct, reflecting the idea that sometimes the most loving thing one can say is also the hardest thing to hear.