Justin de Lima's assemblages are inspired by the Lusophone diaspora in Toronto. it wasn't until he moved to the city from the suburbs that he became interested in assimilation and gentrification through a queer lens. it also wasn't until he moved to the neighbourhood where his family first set up roots that he moved away from figurative paintings and started sculpting. his sculptures are intuitively-made manifestations of his taking responsibility for being part of the gentrification of the little Portugal that was once considered an immigrant ghetto. Justin's installations are made from material gleaned from the streets of his neighbourhood and his palette is inspired by the condo culture that often ignore the history and heritages of the city. the artist also uses the aesthetics of Tumblr and the colourful, artistic traditions of the Azores Islands and Angola to communicate the politics of privilege and queerness in immigrant communities.