A Moving Collection of Artwork

Patient-centered care involves understanding the lived experience of those in pain. As a healthcare provider, I have struggled with trying to understand such an experience, having never had significant pain myself. It has been a frustrating journey for me as I never felt that I could relate to my patients in pain, and I felt guilty that I could not truly put myself in their shoes, no matter how they tried to explain their experience to me. Language does not have the words to describe such suffering, sensations or encounters with pain. Although each person’s pain is unique to her/him, I’ve found that art has helped me gain better insight into the anguish felt by persons in pain in a way that words cannot. As a result, I now collect all forms of art, digital, painting, drawings, or otherwise, that depict the experience of pain. My collection is here in this gallery. I hope you find it as powerful as I do.

Please note that no copyright infringement is intended. I have obtained most of these images from social media and the internet and it has been challenging at times to find the creator. If you see your art in this collection, please notify me and I will accommodate your preferences regarding removal, or permission to maintain the image in the collection, with recognition of your work.  

If you would like to send me more images to add to the collection please contact me