The bold, organic shapes and splashes of intense color greeting visitors to The Queen City Art Gallery at Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital may look abstract, but for New Rochelle artist Kat Sayegh, these digital prints are a central part of her therapeutic healing process. The interpretations of her MRI images, which hang below some of her art pieces, and the central nervous system represent Sayegh’s personal journey of injury, surgery and recovery.
A Personal Journey of Injury, Surgery and Recovery Vividly Portrayed in the New Exhibit at The Queen City Art Gallery
April 13, 2023
“Art was my natural way of coping through the physical traumas and grief of being an injured athlete.”
Kat Sayegh
The driving forces behind her work are the deep emotions that only the subconscious can reach, which are then released through her work. Sayegh created the artwork using acrylic paints mixed with a pouring medium, which made the paint flow—uncontrollably at times.
“Using liquid, flowy paint represented the loss of control I had in my life by having to succumb to my injuries,” she said. “Standing over them gave me my power back and helped me take back control of my life.”
“The Healing Power of Art” is the featured spring collection at the gallery, which is a collaboration between the Montefiore Fine Art Program and Collection and the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. By showcasing original work from Westchester County artists, the gallery strives to enrich the lives of patients, caregivers, associates, faculty and students at Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital and to support the understanding of contemporary art in a medical center context.
The Queen City Art Gallery hosts a rotation of three exhibits each year with a wide range of themes, media and techniques. Curator Jodi Moise, Director, Montefiore Einstein Fine Art Program and Collection, ensures that the art on display appeals to a wide audience, reflects cultural diversity and supports Montefiore Einstein’s mission to heal, teach, discover and advance the health of the communities it serves.
“Every exhibit brings a different level of emotion to those visiting,” Moise said.
Sayegh, who is also an art therapist and president of the New Rochelle Art Association, said the collection “represents how creative expression can also help us transition into a new and meaningful life.”
“The Healing Power of Art” remains on display at Montefiore New Rochelle, 101 Glover Johnson Place, New Rochelle, through May 31.
