It’s been one year since the killing of George Floyd, and the impact of his death is being felt in many ways around the country.

The arts community in New Jersey expressed its grief, anger and other emotions through creative outlets to remember Floyd.

Jersey City artist Lorenzo Pickett reflected on the portrait of Floyd that he painted-- while overcome with emotion.

“It went past the physical and just touched me in a profound way,” he says.

Pickett says he was on an emotional rollercoaster in the days after seeing the video of Floyd's murder.

“That haunted me, and I actually couldn’t sleep for two days,” he says. “And in the midst of not being able to sleep, I painted that portrait.”

He is not alone. The emotional response by artists is still visible one year later in public art and in galleries where exhibits themed on social justice have gone up in recent months.

Pickett says that painting an image of Floyd has a healing experience.

"I wouldn't consider myself an artist if I didn't help articulate George Floyd's story, if I didn't participate in what was going on,” he says.

Floyd’s death led to much police reform in New Jersey and around the country.