The Pink Bow Project

In April 2018, The Pink Bow Project debuted during National Child Abuse Prevention Month at Gallery Shoal Creek in Austin, Texas. This large-scale, multimedia art installation is designed to envelop its audience. Upon entering the gallery, visitors are confronted by 52 sheer panels hung from the ceiling like curtains. Massive in scale, each 9’x4’ panel holds 1,000 pink hair bows, a ubiquitous symbol of a girl’s childhood innocence. In total, 51,660 bows are displayed, representing the number of substantiated sexual abuse cases against young girls reported annually to national Child Protection Services agencies.

As visitors make their way through the gallery space—maneuvering through the panels like navigating a maze—an audio component pulls them deeper into the experience. A crowd of voices emerges, unified through shared trauma. One by one, voices step forward, stating their name and age at the time of their abuse before fading back into the chorus as another survivor speaks.

“The Pink Bow Project was created from a deeply personal space. The impetus came from the explosion of voices in 2016 speaking out about sexual assault, exploitation, and childhood sexual abuse. As these conversations moved from whispers to national discourse, I found myself drawn deeper into my own history as a survivor. Through this process, I reclaimed a measure of power over the memories left behind. The Pink Bow Project shifts my story from an isolated trauma to a shared, transformational experience with other survivors. In it, I found my space to speak—to say my name out loud.”

"My name is Karen, I was 10 years old."

In 2024, Karen Hawkins successfully established The Pink Bow Project as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to raising awareness and providing a safe, creative outlet for childhood sexual abuse survivors. With the goal of expanding its impact, The Pink Bow Project is now envisioned as a traveling exhibition, bringing its powerful message to communities across the country.

Hawkins invites fellow survivors to anonymously record their voices and become part of The Pink Bow Project. To have your voice included in this evolving art installation, please record your first name and the age when your abuse occurred.

Your voice will join the thousands of others who have lived this experience. Thank you for your support.

#MakeYourVoiceHeard