Every piece of art tellsan untold story.

Art is important to me because it became a form of expression long before I had the words to explain what I was feeling.

As a child, drawing became my escape from my current situation. I experienced many challenges and traumatic experiences, including moving in and out of foster homes and group homes, and experiencing sexual, mental, and physical abuse. There were things happening around me that I did not know how to process and feelings that I could not put into words.

So, I drew.

Art gave me somewhere to go when I could not physically leave my circumstances. It allowed me to create a world where, even for a moment, I could experience something different from what I was living through. My drawings became a safe place for emotions that I could not speak about. Art became my voice when I felt voiceless.

As I grew older, I began to understand that what had helped me survive could potentially help someone else heal and express themselves. That realization led me to explore art therapy and the connection between creativity, emotional expression, and healing.

I became interested in helping others discover that they, too, can use creativity to communicate what may be difficult to say with words. Sometimes a person cannot explain their pain, their fear, their anger, or even their hope—but they may be able to paint it, draw it, create it, or express it through another form of art.

That is why art is so important to me.

Art represents more than creativity. It represents survival, expression, healing, and transformation. What once became an escape for a hurting child has grown into a desire to create spaces where others can feel safe enough to express themselves and begin healing.

I don't just see art as something I create. I see art as something that helped me find my voice—and now I want to help others find theirs.

— JUANGRIELLE BRISTER