Meet the artist behind the canvas

My Story

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Creating has always been a way for me to explore, express myself, and find joy. But as my scoliosis progressively worsened, even the simplest act of creating became increasingly difficult.

For years, I lived with chronic pain, exhaustion, and the physical limitations that often accompany an invisible condition. Sitting, standing, concentrating, and finding the energy to do the things I loved became challenges. The pain was intense, and over time, my quality of life deteriorated to a point where I knew something had to change.

At the age of 50, after years of living with the condition, I made the decision to undergo spinal fusion surgery. It was a significant decision and the beginning of a long journey toward healing. After giving myself the time I needed to recover, I slowly found my way back to painting and creating.

Something unexpected began to happen.

As I started painting again, I discovered that I could express feelings and experiences that I had never quite been able to put into words. Through color, movement, texture, and imagery, I began translating the emotions of living with scoliosis onto canvas. For the first time, I felt I could communicate what it was like to live inside a body that didn't always cooperate with the life I wanted to lead.

That experience became the beginning of The Shape I Carry.

This series is deeply personal, but its meaning reaches beyond my own experience with scoliosis. It explores the emotions that can accompany chronic pain, invisible illness, physical limitations, and the quiet resilience it takes to keep moving forward.

My intention is not to create paintings that simply portray pain or suffering. Rather, I want to create opportunities for connection, compassion, and understanding. I want people who live with invisible conditions to look at a painting and recognize something of themselves in it — perhaps a feeling they have struggled to explain, an emotion they have kept inside, or an experience they thought no one else could understand.

And for those who may not have experienced these challenges themselves, I hope the artwork offers a glimpse into a world they may not otherwise see.

I believe art can communicate what words sometimes cannot. It can open conversations, create connections, and remind us that although our experiences may be different, the emotions we carry are often remarkably similar.

The Shape I Carry is my story, expressed through art. But I hope that somewhere within these paintings, you might find a little piece of your own.