Discover Roxana Semorile

This art series, The Art of Healing Through Self-Study and Post-Traumatic Creativity, was born from my personal experience with breast cancer and the complex journey of recovery. The stress of receiving a diagnosis, undergoing treatments, and navigating life after cancer left an indelible mark on my emotional well-being. But, it was through this struggle that I began to realize the power of creativity—not just as an outlet but as a tool for profound healing.

I found that conventional therapy could not fully address the depth of trauma I experienced. Words alone seemed insufficient, and yet, through writing poetry, keeping a journal, and eventually immersing myself in visual art, I began to find a language that could express the inexpressible. These creative outlets allowed me to channel my pain, confusion, and fear into something tangible, something that reflected my journey, my growth, and my resilience.

This series is not just an artistic exploration; it is an extension of my own healing process. It is my way of investigating how creativity can support recovery—not just for myself but for others who may face similar emotional challenges. What I discovered was that post-traumatic creativity (PTC) offers more than a mere escape from trauma. It provides a means to confront, understand, and transcend it. It becomes a bridge between what was and what can be—a path that leads toward healing.

My Catholic faith played a pivotal role in this journey, offering me hope and purpose in moments of uncertainty. Through the lens of my faith, I was able to see my experience of trauma and recovery as not just a personal battle but a deeply spiritual one. Art became my way of embodying this spiritual journey, where each brushstroke, each written word, was an act of both personal and communal healing. It was a way to connect with something larger than myself, to give voice to my suffering and hope, and to share that journey with others.

This project is more than research—it is my form of self-care and reflection. It’s a means of sharing my story with those who may feel alone in their own struggles and a way to explore how art, in its many forms, can be a powerful force for resilience and healing. Through this series, I aim to show how creativity can be a pathway to transformation, not just in the aftermath of trauma, but as a way to reclaim and redefine the self.