St. Jude patient artwork
Learning how to express yourself using a non-verbal language is an important part of the human experience. Visual art provides a safe space for St. Jude patients to explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences, and during their time here we encourage them to explore artmaking. Artmaking enhances children’s cognitive abilities, fine motor skills, and problem solving skills.
Click (or touch) a piece learn more about the art or artist
Avery
Sickle cell disease
Rainbows and volcanoes have captured Avery’s attention and are the subject of her multicolored painting. Blue, yellow, green, purple and pink are among the watercolors the young artist chose for her rainbow while a light brown was used for the volcano.
“Rainbows are pretty and volcanoes are cool," she said.
Avery was diagnosed at a young age with sickle cell disease, a group of blood disorders that prevent the normal flow of blood in the body because of the effect on the hemoglobin within red blood cells.
Throughout her life, Avery received IV fluids, blood transfusions and pain medications to manage the symptoms of sickle cell disease. Avery received a bone marrow transplant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in the early part of 2023. Her donor was one of her older sisters.
“She has more energy and is playing," her mother, Valentine said.
Valentine said she looks forward to watching Avery grow.
“St. Jude has given us the hope that she can be a child and enjoy life like any other 7-year-old," Valentine said. “With St. Jude we can hope and we can dream."
Coraliz
Bone cancer
Coraliz arrived at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® when she was 10 years old and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She graduated from college in 2023 and is now working as a medical laboratory scientist, inspired by her experiences at St. Jude. She loves to paint and draw.
During her treatment, she painted colorful “helping hands” that represented “all the support” she got from friends and family. One of her landscapes symbolizes that “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
“It’s a reminder that tomorrow is a new day and that things get better.”
Abraham
Brain cancer
When Abraham travels to St. Jude for his medical checkups, the structures and scenery around him become his muse.
His artworks, depicting the Hernando de Soto bridge and Memphis Pyramid, are titled “St. Jude in Memphis" and “I Love St. Jude."
“These are some things I like to see when I come to my checkups," he said.
His pencil sketch on paper was filled with crayons. He used acrylic paint on canvas for the other.
Abraham received radiation therapy and chemotherapy at St. Jude after a surgery to remove a brain tumor called a medulloblastoma.
He returned home in 2019.
Javier
Brother of St. Jude patient Juan
Javier’s memories of trips to the Memphis pyramid with his mom and older brother, Juan, inspired his artwork.
His painting shows a sunset behind the iconic structure. “As children, this is how we see the world, even in dark times," Javier said.
Juan was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 9 and treated at St. Jude.
Javier, who has the same genetic predisposition, undergoes routine check-ups.
Juan passed away in 2018 at age 15.
“If something comes up, I’ll accept it. I’ll be like my brother", he said.
Abraham
Brain cancer
When Abraham travels to St. Jude for his medical checkups, the structures and scenery around him become his muse.
His artworks, depicting the Hernando de Soto bridge and Memphis Pyramid, are titled “St. Jude in Memphis" and “I Love St. Jude."
“These are some things I like to see when I come to my checkups," he said.
His pencil sketch on paper was filled with crayons. He used acrylic paint on canvas for the other.
Abraham received radiation therapy and chemotherapy at St. Jude after a surgery to remove a brain tumor called a medulloblastoma.
He returned home in 2019.
Javier
Brother of St. Jude patient Juan
Javier’s memories of trips to the Memphis pyramid with his mom and older brother, Juan, inspired his artwork.
His painting shows a sunset behind the iconic structure. “As children, this is how we see the world, even in dark times," Javier said.
Juan was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 9 and treated at St. Jude.
Javier, who has the same genetic predisposition, undergoes routine check-ups.
Juan passed away in 2018 at age 15.
“If something comes up, I’ll accept it. I’ll be like my brother", he said.
Coraliz
Bone cancer
Coraliz arrived at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® when she was 10 years old and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She graduated from college in 2023 and is now working as a medical laboratory scientist, inspired by her experiences at St. Jude. She loves to paint and draw.
During her treatment, she painted colorful “helping hands” that represented “all the support” she got from friends and family. One of her landscapes symbolizes that “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
“It’s a reminder that tomorrow is a new day and that things get better.”
“It’s a reminder that tomorrow is a new day and that things get better.”
Aspen
Cancerous tumor
This young cancer survivor cherishes the moment she left her hospital bed at St. Jude to visit the playroom. Her acrylic painting captures that special time.
“The girl is me and there is a nurse. It reminds me of the window where I painted," she said.
Aspen hopes her artwork conveys the kindness of St. Jude, where she received life-saving treatment for stage IV neuroblastoma.
“My mom told me that she has never seen people this kind in her life," she said.
“St. Jude saved us. It saved the family," said Aspen’s dad, Zuriel. “St. Jude is a gift."
Lilly
Blood cancer
Lilly formed an interest in art during a very difficult time, when her life was really just beginning.
She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 5 years old. While undergoing chemotherapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Lilly found that art helped fill the downtime. It became “kind of a coping mechanism," she said. “However I was feeling I could put into my art."
It was an outlet she would turn to again.
Lilly’s cancer came back in 2016. She returned to St. Jude, where she received chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a haploidentical (or half-matched) bone marrow transplant, a procedure St. Jude helped pioneer. Now she visits St. Jude for regular checkups. Life has changed as cancer has receded into the background. But art has remained.
Lilly’s watercolor, “Sweet Dreams Over Memphis," shows a peaceful view of downtown Memphis and the Hernando de Soto Bridge from the vantage point of a St. Jude patient.
It’s a scene she knows well, having lived it.
“When I painted this, I was thinking of a sunset over Memphis and how it made me sleepy when I had my bone marrow transplant," Lilly said.
Javier
Brother of St. Jude patient Juan
Javier’s memories of trips to the Memphis pyramid with his mom and older brother, Juan, inspired his artwork.
His painting shows a sunset behind the iconic structure. “As children, this is how we see the world, even in dark times," Javier said.
Juan was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 9 and treated at St. Jude.
Javier, who has the same genetic predisposition, undergoes routine check-ups.
Juan passed away in 2018 at age 15.
“If something comes up, I’ll accept it. I’ll be like my brother", he said.
Abraham
Brain cancer
When Abraham travels to St. Jude for his medical checkups, the structures and scenery around him become his muse.
His artworks, depicting the Hernando de Soto bridge and Memphis Pyramid, are titled “St. Jude in Memphis" and “I Love St. Jude."
“These are some things I like to see when I come to my checkups," he said.
His pencil sketch on paper was filled with crayons. He used acrylic paint on canvas for the other.
Abraham received radiation therapy and chemotherapy at St. Jude after a surgery to remove a brain tumor called a medulloblastoma.
He returned home in 2019.
Aspen
Cancerous tumor
This young cancer survivor cherishes the moment she left her hospital bed at St. Jude to visit the playroom. Her acrylic painting captures that special time.
“The girl is me and there is a nurse. It reminds me of the window where I painted," she said.
Aspen hopes her artwork conveys the kindness of St. Jude, where she received life-saving treatment for stage IV neuroblastoma.
“My mom told me that she has never seen people this kind in her life," she said.
“St. Jude saved us. It saved the family," said Aspen’s dad, Zuriel. “St. Jude is a gift."
Misheel
Brain cancer
Despite her own battle with brain cancer, Misheel refused to let her illness keep her from spreading joy to others.
On the days when she had appointments at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Misheel sported a bright smile as she carried a bag bursting with colorful balloon creations. She gave them away to other patients, doctors and nurses.
“She is trying her best to show kids that things can happen, but there are always good ways to go through it," said her mother, Undrakh.
Misheel was diagnosed in July 2023 after her parents noticed she was constantly thirsty and always excusing herself to go to the restroom. A doctor’s visit and tests revealed a tumor on Misheel’s pituitary gland and two other spots in the brain.
Misheel was referred to St. Jude, where her treatment included chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Now her treatment is done, and she returns to St. Jude just for checkups.
“St. Jude means a lot to us, it has become a loving family," said Undrakh.
Coraliz
Bone cancer
Coraliz arrived at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® when she was 10 years old and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She graduated from college in 2023 and is now working as a medical laboratory scientist, inspired by her experiences at St. Jude. She loves to paint and draw.
During her treatment, she painted colorful “helping hands” that represented “all the support” she got from friends and family. One of her landscapes symbolizes that “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
“It’s a reminder that tomorrow is a new day and that things get better.”
Abraham
Brain cancer
When Abraham travels to St. Jude for his medical checkups, the structures and scenery around him become his muse.
His artworks, depicting the Hernando de Soto bridge and Memphis Pyramid, are titled “St. Jude in Memphis" and “I Love St. Jude."
“These are some things I like to see when I come to my checkups," he said.
His pencil sketch on paper was filled with crayons. He used acrylic paint on canvas for the other.
Abraham received radiation therapy and chemotherapy at St. Jude after a surgery to remove a brain tumor called a medulloblastoma.
He returned home in 2019.
Avery
Sickle cell disease
Rainbows and volcanoes have captured Avery’s attention and are the subject of her multicolored painting. Blue, yellow, green, purple and pink are among the watercolors the young artist chose for her rainbow while a light brown was used for the volcano.
“Rainbows are pretty and volcanoes are cool," she said.
Avery was diagnosed at a young age with sickle cell disease, a group of blood disorders that prevent the normal flow of blood in the body because of the effect on the hemoglobin within red blood cells.
Throughout her life, Avery received IV fluids, blood transfusions and pain medications to manage the symptoms of sickle cell disease. Avery received a bone marrow transplant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in the early part of 2023. Her donor was one of her older sisters.
“She has more energy and is playing," her mother, Valentine said.
Valentine said she looks forward to watching Avery grow.
“St. Jude has given us the hope that she can be a child and enjoy life like any other 7-year-old," Valentine said. “With St. Jude we can hope and we can dream."
Lilly
Blood cancer
Lilly formed an interest in art during a very difficult time, when her life was really just beginning.
She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 5 years old. While undergoing chemotherapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Lilly found that art helped fill the downtime. It became “kind of a coping mechanism," she said. “However I was feeling I could put into my art."
It was an outlet she would turn to again.
Lilly’s cancer came back in 2016. She returned to St. Jude, where she received chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a haploidentical (or half-matched) bone marrow transplant, a procedure St. Jude helped pioneer. Now she visits St. Jude for regular checkups. Life has changed as cancer has receded into the background. But art has remained.
Lilly’s watercolor, “Sweet Dreams Over Memphis," shows a peaceful view of downtown Memphis and the Hernando de Soto Bridge from the vantage point of a St. Jude patient.
It’s a scene she knows well, having lived it.
“When I painted this, I was thinking of a sunset over Memphis and how it made me sleepy when I had my bone marrow transplant," Lilly said.
Aspen
Cancerous tumor
This young cancer survivor cherishes the moment she left her hospital bed at St. Jude to visit the playroom. Her acrylic painting captures that special time.
“The girl is me and there is a nurse. It reminds me of the window where I painted," she said.
Aspen hopes her artwork conveys the kindness of St. Jude, where she received life-saving treatment for stage IV neuroblastoma.
“My mom told me that she has never seen people this kind in her life," she said.
“St. Jude saved us. It saved the family," said Aspen’s dad, Zuriel. “St. Jude is a gift."
Lilly
Blood cancer
Lilly formed an interest in art during a very difficult time, when her life was really just beginning.
She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 5 years old. While undergoing chemotherapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Lilly found that art helped fill the downtime. It became “kind of a coping mechanism," she said. “However I was feeling I could put into my art."
It was an outlet she would turn to again.
Lilly’s cancer came back in 2016. She returned to St. Jude, where she received chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a haploidentical (or half-matched) bone marrow transplant, a procedure St. Jude helped pioneer. Now she visits St. Jude for regular checkups. Life has changed as cancer has receded into the background. But art has remained.
Lilly’s watercolor, “Sweet Dreams Over Memphis," shows a peaceful view of downtown Memphis and the Hernando de Soto Bridge from the vantage point of a St. Jude patient.
It’s a scene she knows well, having lived it.
“When I painted this, I was thinking of a sunset over Memphis and how it made me sleepy when I had my bone marrow transplant," Lilly said.
Javier
Brother of St. Jude patient Juan
Javier’s memories of trips to the Memphis pyramid with his mom and older brother, Juan, inspired his artwork.
His painting shows a sunset behind the iconic structure. “As children, this is how we see the world, even in dark times," Javier said.
Juan was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 9 and treated at St. Jude.
Javier, who has the same genetic predisposition, undergoes routine check-ups.
Juan passed away in 2018 at age 15.
“If something comes up, I’ll accept it. I’ll be like my brother", he said.