Art with a Heart in Healthcare

Music, nature, and Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream make Ariana happy. Singing in chorus helps her bring out her inner self, and that same sense of expression carries into her artwork. Her piece captures her love of sunsets and the beauty of each one being different.

Ariana, age 17
Sunkissed, 2026

Caris finds delight in simple things, like jumping around in the pool, building blanket forts for her cats, and seeing her friends. In her artwork, cats represent Caris herself, a natural "cat whisperer." Through AWAHIH, Caris gets to explore her playful creativity, meet new people, and try new materials.

Caris, age 10
Cat-tastrophe, 2026

Cation's creativity spans across visual art, songwriting, and playing instruments. While he was in the hospital, creating with AWAHIH gave him and his mom a space to focus on something lighthearted together. Cation hopes his artwork brightens someone's day, or at least makes them smile.

Cation, age 13
Love in the Desert, 2026

Charli always tries to lift people's spirits and makes them feel cared for. Whether she is playing volleyball, performing in theatre, or leading at school, she brings warmth and determination to everything she does. Creating this artwork gave Charli a chance to imagine herself at her favorite place, the beach.

Charli, age 10
Relax Your Heart, 2026

Spending time with his family and his cat, Flash, makes Connor happy. His art often includes characters, self-portraits, and colorful sunsets. For this piece, Connor painted a sunset scene with Godzilla wading in the water, combining one of his favorite movie characters with his own love of swimming.

Connor, age 9
Sunset Beach, 2026

Elyssa preserves memories of her late dog, Zeus, through her artwork. While she was in the hospital, painting his portrait helped her feel connected to him. Through AWAHIH, she was also able to make art alongside other kids. She hopes her piece reminds others, "Even when life gets hard, just keep going."

Elyssa, age 9
Zeus and the Roses, 2026

Emmalyn feels happiest when she is dancing, fishing, or spending time with her family. During hospital stays, being creative helps her, as she says, "get my mind off of being at the hospital." She hopes the vibrant colors in her artwork bring others the same happiness she felt while painting it.

Emmalyn, age 11
Every Step Tells a Story, 2026

Evie considers herself a "vibes artist," letting music and emotion guide her process. She loves how eyes can express so much without words and how English Language Arts deepens her interpretation of stories and artwork. Outside of art, Evie is lighthearted and silly, often skateboarding, playing soccer, or reading.

Evie, age 14
Iris, 2026

Jack's curiosity comes through in his love of the natural world. Made with images from his own National Geographic collection, his artwork showcases his belief that animals are important and deserve respect. His favorite animal of all is his dog, Phyllis, who helps him when times are tough.

Jack, age 11
Wild Adventure, 2026

Making art helps Jamiyan express life experiences and relax on hard days. During his brother's hospital stays, creating with AWAHIH helped take Jamiyan's mind off what was happening. His piece brings together two sides of his heart, shelves of memories, and his brother's handprint.

Jamiyan, age 14
In Memory Of, 2026

Art is one way Jasel finds peace when life feels difficult. "When I put pencil to paper, it's my expression and my whole life process," he shared. His original character with an X-ray machine shows that while treatment may wear him down on the outside, he remains whole within.

Jasel, age 20
One He(ART) at a Time, 2026

Painted like a decorated cake, Jocelyn's artwork reminds her to keep pushing forward, turning hard moments into hope. "We all have downfalls. The only thing that matters is if you are willing to get up," she shared. Creating art gives Jocelyn the freedom to express herself without explanation.

Jocelyn, age 17
Painted Tears, 2026

Kaden has a big imagination and an even bigger love for jets, inspired by his grandfather, who served in the Navy. He brought that passion to life through his artwork, hoping it helps people remember, "Sometimes we have down days and up days. Be sure to focus on up days and the future."

Kaden, age 11
The Sky is the Limit, 2026

Kilanni's family, her cat Milo, and dance mean the world to her. In her artwork, fruit represents her family, and dots symbolize the people she loves. Creating with AWAHIH during her sister's hospital stay taught her, "You can always fix your mistakes or create something new out of them."

Kilanni, age 8
The Heart of My Family, 2026

Loreley is fascinated by space and imagines a colorful world filled with dragons and mythical creatures. Her cat, Sunday, and sea animals are also close to her heart. Creating art is something Loreley and her mom enjoy doing together, including during her hospital stay.

Loreley, age 9
Untitled, 2026

No sunset feels complete for Lovie without her dog, Pearl, who lifts her spirits when she feels sad. Singing, getting her hands messy while making art, and sharing her creations also bring her joy. Living with spina bifida has meant many hospital stays, but time with AWAHIH helps Lovie stay positive.

Lovie, age 9
Summer Night, 2026

Marilyn's heart is full of love for her family. She painted herself and her brother in a boat to show how her loved ones help keep her afloat. Creating this piece gave Marilyn and her family something special to do together during her hospital stay, and she hopes it makes others think about their families, too.

Marilyn, age 11
Sunset Happiness, 2026

Max believes everyone deserves the freedom to be fully themselves. Like a flower vase, his piece gathers the memories, experiences, and people who have shaped his journey, with photographs of care team members' eyes honoring those meaningful connections. Together, these elements make Max feel whole.

Max, age 17
Flower Vase, 2026

Paisley's piece brings together the things that make her happiest. Her art is filled with her favorite colors, including "hospital glove blue." With AWAHIH, Paisley gets to have fun and keep practicing her art skills. As she says, "If you keep doing it, you will get better, only if you enjoy it, though."

Paisley, age 9
Colors of My Heart, 2026

RJ creates from a place of pure joy, curiosity, and as he says, "fun." In the hospital, art helps him express himself and focus on what makes him happy. He enjoys drawing Minions, whales, and solar systems, and he especially loves working with paper, cutting and shaping it into creations of his own.

RJ, age 15
Character Galaxy, 2026

Sam's artwork imagines a Minecraft inspired world shaped by his faith, sense of adventure, and the bond he shares with his brother. A pig companion waits nearby in the boat, symbolizing Sam's love for fishing and his experience showing pigs through the National FFA Organization.

Sam, age 17
Built on Faith, 2026

Nice cars and good friends are part of what makes Skielar who he is, so he had to include his dream car, a blue Ferrari, in his art. With AWAHIH, Skielar enjoys getting to be his silly, creative self. He painted the entire piece with his non-dominant hand, a reminder that, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to enjoy it."

Skielar, age 10
Driving Into the Sunset, 2026

Summer's artwork is a calm journey of hope, with three turtles representing Summer, her mom, and her dad moving through life together. The beach scene reflects Summer's love of salt water and seaside views, and the soothing feeling she finds in painting the ocean.

Summer, age 15
Journey to the Great Blue Sea, 2026

Tanner feels most himself when he is listening to music, fishing, playing basketball, or spending time outside. His piece reflects the calm he finds out on the water. While he does not often make art on his own, he enjoys creating with AWAHIH artists, whether for an exhibition or just for fun.

Tanner, age 15
What Moves You, 2026

Making art has become a way for Zanib to hold on to memories of a dear friend who passed away from cancer. In her friend's honor, she spreads cancer awareness and stands up for others. Zanib likes giving her artwork to people who are sad or sick, hoping it brings encouragement when they need it most.

Zanib, age 10
The Beauty of Figures, 2026