Over the past few years we have published articles on how art elevates our compassion and empathy, improves our clinical skills, and allows us to reflect on the sometimes difficult procedures in the world of medicine and medical education. . One of our favorite indications of the role of art in communication and connection is our contributors deciding that their written works are best accompanied by artworks they have created by hand. in the formation at its heart is a magazine devoted to humanism in medicine, and as many of our past contributors have explained, art allows us to better appreciate the complexities of patient-doctor dynamics.
We launched this call for visual creations several months ago, in order to gauge the interest and willingness of our communities to adopt a new means of expression on our website. We asked artists to submit an artist statement with their work to reflect on what inspired them to create their work and how their art reflects their experiences in medicine.
The gallery below presents all the artists who submitted their work to us this winter. Here you will find work that challenges us to prioritize human connection as health care providers, as Arielle Moss’ painting reminds us of the early days of the pandemic, and to reflect on the sanctity of our position, as shown in the work of Yeonsoo Sara Lee. At the same time, art allows us to recognize our own vulnerabilities in this area, as Anna Boeher’s painting does. Melissa Warne’s work reminds us that while art and medicine can be thought-provoking and serious, they also bring many moments of lightness and laughter.
We hope that in addition to perusing this gallery, you’ll take the time to peruse their artist statements to get an idea of how each artist approached their work and inspirations. We look forward to sharing more art with all of you in the future!
A gallery of our inaugural artists
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Johanna Balas, Do not be afraid to join me in the dark abyss.
Read the artist statement here
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Salma Attai, Niagara Gorge.
Read the artist statement here.
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Ruchica Chadnani, Takotsubo – The Three of Swords.
Read the artist statement here.
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Arielle Moss, Connection in isolation.
Read the artist statement here.
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Anna Bohler, Open heart.
Read the artist statement here.
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Melissa Warne, Caput medusae.
Read the artist statement here.
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Melissa Warne, Bran the man
Read the artist statement here.
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Sarah Kurkowski, The face of the spirit.
Read the artist statement here.
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Tess Cersonsky, Step 3.
Read the artist statement here.
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Melissa Warne, Achoe!
Read the artist statement here.
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Aditi Jagadis, 2020, colorized.
Read the artist statement here.
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Rachel Eisenberg, My shining and black heart.
Read the artist statement here.
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Florence Yip, From belly to grave.
Read the artist statement here.
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Florence Yip, Oxytocin.
Read the artist statement here.
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Florence Yip, Breathe.
Read the artist statement here.
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Florence Yip, I’ve got your back.
Read the artist statement here.
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Andrew Kwok, Balance
Read the artist statement here.
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Florence Yip, Women.
Read the artist statement here.
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Ruchica Chadnani, Bird beak
Read the artist statement here.
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Florence Yip, So why Koi?
Read the artist statement here.
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Yeonsoo Sara Lee, The practice of my art
Read the artist statement here.
Chief Editor
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Alina is a fourth-year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. In 2018, she graduated from Barnard College with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior. She enjoys poetry and drinking chai in her free time.
