UCSF Art for Recovery

09/21/2026

"Scanxiety Blues," a song by artist Sylvia Parisotto. Accompanied by Josie Friedman.

09/17/2026

"A Mermaid," a song by artist Sylvia Parisotto. Accompanied by Josie Friedman.

"A Mermaid," a song by artist Sylvia Parisotto. Accompanied by Josi...

09/09/2026

We’re incredibly honored to see Allison Leeds featured on the cover of Cancer Health Magazine and to have her story of healing, creativity, and hope shared with the world. Thank you to this community for your incredible power of art and connection, and to feature a few more Art for Recovery artists within this story.

Read the full story in Cancer Health Magazine below!

Cancer Health empowers people living with cancer to actively manage and advocate for their care and improve their overall health.

09/03/2026

Become a pen pal in a unique nine-month exchange of letters and artwork between UCSF patients and current medical students. Each month, you’ll share a thoughtful letter and/or collaborative creation—anything from a “soundtrack of your life” to stories, collages, or other personal art. The time commitment is about two hours a month.

As a participant, you’ll have the chance to mentor and connect with a patient or future physician, offering insight, encouragement, and real-life perspective. You’ll share your experiences openly, creating a meaningful bond that can inspire and sustain you both. In the spring, the project culminates in a special Healing Service, where you’ll meet your pen pal in person and, together, reflect on what this exchange has meant to you.

To learn more, email us at: [email protected]
for the application :)

08/27/2026

Click below to our latest feature in People Magazine!

"People sometimes look at art as 'What a great distraction for people going through a hard time.' That kind of infuriates me." Our Art for Recovery director, Amy Van Cleve, doesn't mince words in this beautiful new PEOPLE feature, and she's right. Art isn't a distraction from illness. It's a way through it.

I'm so moved to see Susana Gershuny's story in this piece. Susana found her way to UCSF Art for Recovery during breast cancer treatment, and turned the hair she lost to chemo into handspun yarn and a piece of art that later hung at SFMOMA. Her words say it best: "Being able to make something with my hair gave me a control over the narrative, to reframe it in a positive way."

Studies have shown tapping into creativity can be good medicine. Quilter NedRa Bonds, 78, graphic artist Julene Ewert, 58, and interior designer Susana Gershuny, 37, share their stories with PEOPLE Health of how art helped each of them cope with cancer

08/04/2026

Claudia Dolin | Transcendence: From Pain to Joy | Stories of Art for Recovery

After being diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer, Claudia Dolan turned to art as a way to process pain, grief, uncertainty, and hope. Her exhibition, Transcendence: From Pain to Joy, reflects a deeply personal journey toward peace and a moment of full circle, revealing how creativity can transform suffering into meaning.

Join us Wednesday, August 12th from 4:30 - 6:30 PM at Mission Bay to unveil 'Transcendence: From Pain to Joy,' the exhibition show featuring work by Claudia. The work will be on both display cases on the first floor lobby UCSF Adult Cancer Hospital at 1855 4th Street.

After being diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer, Claudia Dolan t...

07/08/2026

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-hospitals-are-using-the-arts-to-help-patients-recover

Thank you so much to PBS for our feature 'How Hospitals are using the Arts to Help Patients Recovery' on their News Hour! If you were not able to catch our story on the live coverage, please see below for the full video:

As the impact of art on better health outcomes is being studied more and more, some hospital systems are now focusing on even the youngest of patients. Special correspondent Mike Cerre took a look at one approach for all ages. It's part of our ongoing coverage of health and arts for our CANVAS serie...

07/07/2026

We're on PBS! For everyone in the Bay Area, PBS NewsHour will be featuring Art for Recovery on KQED television at 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and on KQED NPR radio at 3:00 PM. For friends outside of the Bay, it should play on your local screens at 6:00 PM local time.

If you prefer to stream it on your own schedule, the full feature will be online after 7:00 PM PST.

Bookmark this link to watch later:

Live video streaming of today's news including breaking coverage and analysis focused on politics, U.S., world, health, science, arts and culture. PBS News is a public media news organization and home to the PBS News Hour, one of the most trusted news programs on air and online.

06/04/2026

Mark Lowenstern | My Heaven | Stories of Art for Recovery

"It was too overwhelming not to write."

After discovering he was diagnosed with two cancers, Mark found writing as a form of creative expression. Mark is a consistent member of our men's writing group, bringing in vulnerable shares from his journal, including his struggles of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

"It was too overwhelming not to write."After discovering he was d...

05/22/2026

New art show at Mission Bay featuring patient artists Gwen Mahoney and Barbara Sloan at the 1855 entrance, running May 21 through the end of July. Come experience this incredible collection of art and explore their curious creative journeys.