The First Ones in Line

“I’ve been scoping ya dudes, ya’ll ain’t been working like I do
I’ll outwork you; it hurts you
You claim I’m stealing jobs, though
Peter Piper claimed he picked them, he just underpaid Pablo
But there ain’t a paper trail when you’re living in the shadows
We’re America’s ghost writers, the credit’s only borrowed
It’s a matter of time before the checks all come
But…
[Chorus]
Immigrants, we get the job done”
~from Immigrants in the Broadway Musical “Hamilton”

By Elin Spring

These are desperate times in the land of the free and the brave. As immigrants attempt to evade ICE abductions, they have become more invisible than ever. Many fear leaving their homes to travel to work. But despite everything at stake, some laborers have mobilized – citizens and immigrants alike – empowering their community to unify through unions like the Boston Local of Unite Here, the hotel and food service workers’ union. With characteristic empathy, 2025 James & Audrey Foster Prize winner Yorgos Efthymiadis has bypassed labor marches and gone behind the scenes to explore these organizers’ personal stories in his portraits of “The First Ones in Line,” on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston through January 19th, 2026.

“Zahra, Nadia” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

Rather than picturing solo or group views of laborers on the job or in a march, Efthymiadis seeks out a more personal view, outside the fray. He has visited workers in and around their homes, and often with their families. In these pensive and intimate portraits, we are able to sense the temperaments of his subjects. Each portrait is a visual testimony to the strength these individuals muster in order to provide food, shelter and a piece of the American Dream for their loved ones.

Feature Image: “Edith, Maria, Greisy, Greyshelis, Camila” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

“Amal” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

“Sonia, Kylie, Dani” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

Efthymiadis’ portraits reveal character not only through expression and gesture but also in surroundings. His commercial work as an architectural photographer has made him adept at composing an environmental portrait that furnishes details about the lifestyles and strivings of these community leaders. Their families and homes let us peek into the impetuses that drive their passion.

“Marta” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

“Susie, Maria” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

“Wai Chan, Ping” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

We realize instinctively that each of these portraits is an introduction, and Efthymiadis has succeeded in igniting our curiosity. Both the clarity and mystery of his portrayals are part of their appeal. Although he has purposely left out their backstories (for this exhibit), Efthymiadis is onsite at the ICA exhibit every Thursday afternoon to field questions about “The First Ones in Line” and also the accompanying series on view, “The Lighthouse Keepers.” These are arrays of portraits, interiors and landscapes that evoke the personal stories of those he grew up with in Greece. This earlier work, although ongoing, has been exhibited and reviewed by us previously (a link to that review is provided at the end of this article).

“Maria P” 2025, from the series The Lighthouse Keepers by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston. (Installation view by Elin Spring)

The through-line of Efthymiadis’ photography has always been connection. He possesses an exceptional gift for finding the heartbeat of struggle and longing, strength and vulnerability. Although “The First Ones in Line” pays tribute to the courage of challenging authority and fighting for living wages, the most impressive trait these individuals share is their ability to build connections and bring people together. Most protest images focus on conflicting groups but Efthymiadis turns our attention to the building blocks of community, the individuals whose strong sense of connection he expresses with affecting compassion.

“Monike, Caio” from the series The First Ones in Line by Yorgos Efthymiadis, courtesy of the artist and ICA Boston.

Installation view of “Samira” in 2005, 2013, & 2021 by Rania Matar, courtesy of the artist, Robert Klein Gallery, Boston and ICA Boston. (photo by Elin Spring)

While you are at the museum, don’t miss the ongoing “Portraits from the ICA Collection,” which features three poignant portraits by Lebanese-American photographer Rania Matar. They depict an Arab-Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, “Samira,” first as a toddler in 2005, then as a young girl in 2013, and as a young woman in 2021. Matar’s penetrating portraits of girls and women from all backgrounds in the Middle East and the USA, bear witness to the beauty and fortitude of those growing up in our turbulent times. In recalling aspects of our own youth, Matar’s portraits inspire deep empathy. On view through January 4th, 2026.

For more information about these exhibits, go to: https://www.icaboston.org/exhibitions/

To read our review of “The Lighthouse Keepers,” go to: https://www.whatwillyouremember.com/the-lighthouse-keepers-by-yorgos-efthymiadis-at-gallery-kayafas-boston/