The American Immigrant's Dreams and Reality are juxtaposed in this I Thought the Streets Were Paved with Gold 1000 piece puzzle by Pacita Abad. 

At Ellis Island Pacita Abad read a saying by an Italian immigrant that resonated with her,

“I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things: first, the streets weren’t paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all; and third, I was expected to pave them.”                

Perhaps more than any other artist featured in our growing collection, the work of Pacita Abad encapsulates the fighting spirit of US immigrant populations. Her empathic representation is striking for its thematic juxtaposition of universal, systemic struggle with triumphant hope and immutable vibrancy in the face of insurmountable odds. 

Learn more about this incredible artist at 

Art & Fable's jigsaw puzzles feature a luxurious velvet-touch surface.  "Puzzles never felt so good!"  They are premium quality jigsaw puzzles made from imaginative and beautiful artwork.  Puzzles are designed to display beautifully on a shelf while using minimal space. Exhibit assorted titles like books, showing off the colorful bindings. This particular feature collectors will love!

Each box contains:

• a collectable, frameable print to enjoy while puzzling and long after
• a resealable bag to preserve your puzzle and prevent lost pieces
• a handy box-top stand designed to steady a tippy box top

Art & Fable makes donations from the sale of this puzzle to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières):

MSF assists populations in distress due to natural or man-made disasters or armed conflict. They do so irrespective of gender, race, religion, creed, or political convictions.

Puzzle Dimensions:

18.9 x 26.7 inches