UCSF Art for Recovery

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.

05/14/2026

Join us May 21st from 4 -6 PM at Mission Bay to unveil two new exhibitions at Mission Bay. We will be featuring Barbara Sloan and Gwen Mahoney, two artists from our Wednesday Open Art Studio group at Mount Zion. Barbara will be showcasing her show "Line Meets Curve" with beautiful watercolors and a variety of different mediums, and Gwen will be displaying her show "Home" with wonderful collage and art from her life.

In Barbara's words, "Art is the only place I can drive off a cliff and not get hurt. My watercolors serve as a diary, where I operate in 'drift' mode, letting whatever catches my eye guide me. Each brushstroke is a decision, and I embrace the freedom to be as reckless as I want."

In Gwen's words, "In my professional life, I was a costume designer and a stylist in Los Angeles for movies plays commercials and stills - I painted my first house when I was about seven. My house grew to villages. There’s always a house, there’s usually a mountain and I believe it all comes from instinct."

Come celebrate Barbara and Gwen's work and the spirit of our creative community on May 21st from 4 - 6 PM on the first floor lobby at UCSF Adult Cancer Hospital at Mission Bay (1855 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA 94158).

05/04/2026

Mark Lowenstern | Writing as a Means to Heal | 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.

1 like. "Mark Lowenstern | Writing as a Means to Heal | Stories of Art for Recovery"

04/22/2026

It’s a surreal day as we say goodbye to our little show at SFMOMA. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and honored to have made history as the first medical center featured in a major metropolitan museum.

This is an experience we will cherish forever. Thank you to SFMOMA, and to all of our patients who made this dream a reality.

I’m so proud of everything we’ve achieved together.

04/10/2026

Helen by Denise De Louise. Now on display UNTIL APRIL 22

"From the moment I saw a photograph develop in the darkroom, I was captivated by the way it turns reality into illusion. I photograph fleeting, unspoken moments—like finding my stepdaughter Heather sitting quietly on the bed—seeking to connect viewer, subject, and self before the moment disappears forever."

View Denise's piece at Steps Coffee on the second floor of SFMOMA today!
❤️

04/07/2026

Party in Sea by Janna McLaughlin. Now on display UNTIL APRIL 22

"Art has always been a huge part of my life, not only as an expression of my creativity, but also as an integral part of my emotional life journey. Drawing and painting gives such a calm and meditative state within me, especially in times of heartache and despair. Art has a magical way of channeling hard experiences and I have leaned on it greatly through my relationship with cancer."

View Janna's piece at Steps Coffee on the second floor of SFMOMA today!
❤️

04/03/2026

Scanxiety by Wei-Pei Cherng. Now on display UNTIL APRIL 22

"I grew up suppressing negative emotions. During breast cancer treatment, that silence hindered my healing. After a recurrence, I found Art for Recovery and began painting my feelings. As an architect, I connect emotion to color, line, and space—releasing tension from my body when words are out of reach."

View Wei-Pei's piece at Steps Coffee on the second floor of SFMOMA today!
❤️

03/31/2026

Summer Exhale by Claudia Dolin. Now on display UNTIL APRIL 22

"I’ve been an artist for most of my life. After my diagnosis, I began using art as a way to cope— expressing what’s really going on inside me when words just aren’t enough. Creating helps me process and share my inner experience."

View Claudia's piece at Steps Coffee on the second floor of SFMOMA today!

03/27/2026

Finding Safety in Endless Darkness is a Radical Act by Manisha Dayal. Now on display

After years of cancer treatment, I felt lost—unsure who I was or what I wanted. Creating art gave me agency and wonder. As a UCSF cancer researcher, physician, writer, and naturalist, I believe healing requires tools like art and nature to help us find meaning in our illness.

View Manisha's piece at Steps Coffee on the second floor of SFMOMA today!