Rendering the Invisible Visible

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 10% of the 61 million people in the United States who identify as having a disability live with an invisible disability. This figure likely underrepresents the reality, as many remain undiagnosed, do not identify with the term "disabled," or have had their experiences dismissed to the point of internalizing disbelief in their condition. Invisible illnesses, by their nature, leave those affected particularly vulnerable to being misunderstood or disregarded by healthcare providers, social networks, and even close family members.

For artist KYRIANNA, the journey to confront and articulate the realities of invisible disability began at age twelve, when she first experienced chronic pain. Her early exposure to creative practices laid the foundation for her eventual identity as an artist, a journey that gained clarity and direction during her high school years. There, she began making intentional choices to align her artistic voice with her lived experience, focusing on bringing visibility to chronic pain and chronic illness.

As an art major in college, KYRIANNA deepened her artistic practice and expanded her connection to the chronic illness and chronic pain community. She founded a support group that became a cornerstone of her creative and personal growth, offering her a platform to exchange stories and insights with others navigating similar challenges. This experience inspired her senior art thesis, which transformed into a collaborative exploration of invisible illness through portraiture. Working closely with members of her support group, she created deeply personal and symbolic representations of their struggles, crafting a powerful visual narrative for conditions often dismissed as intangible.

For KYRIANNA, the act of making art transcends mere self-expression; it validates the unseen. Seeing her pain externalized and given form through art has been a profound source of affirmation and empowerment. Her work not only illuminates her own journey but also fosters a sense of community and compassion for others enduring similar challenges.

Her creative process is deeply humanistic and collaborative. When painting commissioned portraits with participants, KYRIANNA centers the voices of those she works with. She begins by carefully listening to their stories, creating a safe space for them to share their experiences. Together, they envision how the portrait might embody their narratives, ensuring the final work authentically honors their perspective. For KYRIANNA, this collaboration is more than a technical or aesthetic endeavor—it is an act of witnessing and amplifying voices that have often been ignored or misunderstood.

KYRIANNA’s dedication to rendering the invisible visible not only affirms her own experiences but also creates a shared language of validation and recognition. Through her art, she transforms chronic illness and pain from hidden struggles into powerful visual testimonies, bridging the gap between what is felt and what can be seen. Her work stands as a testament to the resilience of those navigating invisible disabilities and the transformative potential of art to illuminate the unseen.

If you or a loved one suffer from chronic illness or chronic pain, and would like to commission a work of art you can connect to KYRIANNA through her website, or social media presence. Please check out the links below to learn more about her and the amazing work she does, both as an artist, and as an advocate for the voices of unheard and unseen experiences of chronic illness and chronic pain.