“I am living with multiple sclerosis and I feel tiredness and lack of strength. It is psychologically painful. I enjoy design, particularly with pen markers and I started to do it the first time I learnt of my disease. In my piece I prefer to use orange as the colour of optimism, but all colours are beautiful!”

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“I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2006. What followed was 10+ years of pain, anxiety, depression, hospitalisation, medication, surgery and almost death. What also followed was awakening, awareness, gratitude and survival. I create paintings to share with the world to raise awareness of ulcerative colitis, chronic illness and mental health. I named this piece ‘Oppression’. I created four pieces, in a series I named 'Portrait of a Patient'. Expression Days is a great opportunity to reach an even larger audience. I am delighted to be a part of it.”

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“I am 66 years old, and developed psoriasis at the age of 35. I learned to knit and learnt embroidery at the age of 12. From that, I always find pleasure to knit & cross-stitch. During my embroidery, I manage to control my excitement and stress, with a clear mind and a calmer body.”

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“I took part in Expression Days to show that from any wound or any pain you can create art. That we are art. Fully. Not just a fraction of us. I think that art has the power to heal, to change, to transform lives.

The process of living with an autoimmune disease is difficult. It becomes part of you. This painting is a desperate, helpless scream. The impossibility to change... sometimes I scream because I can't change the past, sometimes I scream because it hurts, sometimes I scream because I miss someone, and sometimes I scream because I love. It's not the fact that I have psoriasis, it's about having to deal with it all my life. It's a part of me now and I know it will get better, and sometimes it will get worse, but it's always there. The only thing I can do is learn to live with it.”

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“Sjögren's syndrome is a systemic disease. In addition to dry eye and lack of saliva, this disease causes fatigue and weakness, joint pain as well as neurological problems. I was diagnosed during my second pregnancy in 2018, and I got my first symptoms in my first pregnancy in 2012.

The picture I painted shows someone else’s life and at the same time describes mine. It's my friend who gave birth to a baby at about the same time as me. Her idea of herself awakens in me the feeling that there is some emptiness in my life.

That is why an additional level of communication is important for me, during which I compare moments from my life with that person's and create a clearer image. “

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“My piece uses turquoise, a mix of green and blue, to convey earth and water and heart and communication energies.

I am living with Hashimoto’s disease and am a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist. Currently, my symptoms have diminished significantly, due to my auto-analysis and psycho-therapeutic work in dealing with trauma.”

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“I live with my autoimmune diseases, I got used to them. They've taught me sensitivity, understanding, love and help to others even just by listening to them. And above all, never to give up. My loved ones need me, they want me, and I have to be strong. The pain can't be measured and, mainly, it's mine."

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“My piece is a photo and self-portrait that I made. I think that the green symbolises nature and hope.

I have been suffering from severe Crohn's since I was 7 years old. I also suffer from ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and other pathologies.

The symptom I experience the most is the daily fatigue which impacts my social and professional life. I try to take advantage of the small, simple moments in life when I can. The physical and moral pains are difficult and I try to live from day to day to tell the truth.”

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