News

By Lauren Tilghman

Art is truly a transcendent form of expression. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and mediums and it can be appreciated at every age no matter who you are. The creation and the brilliance of art isn’t defined by your location, your life experience, and certainly not your mental, physical, cognitive, or emotional abilities.  

Art is an ever-constant reminder that our limits only exist if we choose to accept them, and that’s what makes the Art Ability exhibit at Bryn Mawr Rehab so inspiring. The art and fine crafts exhibit features work by artists with physical and related cognitive disabilities—such as hearing and visual impairments. Participating artists expressed their creativity through painting, sculpture, fiber arts, stained glass, jewelry, photography, and other mediums.  

For over 15 years Inglis House residents have participated in Bryn Mawr Rehab’s Art Ability program alongside people with varying disabilities from across the globe. Each year—from November through February—the hallways and corridors of Main Line Health’s Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Center are filled with framed canvases, mounted jewelry, and other eye-catching multi-dimensional crafts to create one of the most accessible exhibits in the area. The 2025-2026 showcase features nearly 400 pieces created by 176 artists; among the art on display are paintings created by 17 different Inglis House residents.

The participating resident artists each submitted their work for consideration prior to May 2025 —for the exhibit that kicked off on November 9th. Several of the Inglis artists had more than one piece selected for the exhibit. To-date at least four Inglis resident creations have been sold, including three paintings that were purchased by Main Line’s Bryn Mawr Hospital to decorate the halls of a new therapy unit.  

All the artists participating in the showcase receive an 80% commission on their work, and the remaining 20% of proceeds supports the Art Ability program and Creative Arts Therapy at Bryn Mawr Rehab. The exhibit itself is open to the public and available for viewing seven days week until Sunday, February 1st. All the art is available for purchase and can be viewed online.  

For Inglis House residents like Stephanie Shea, the art programming at the House has been an ongoing creative outlet that she looks forward to, that’s given her a way to express herself in a healthier manner. “…It makes forget that I am living with a disability for a while,” she shared.

For Selina Valetin, participating in the art programing and participating in the Bryn Mawr Art Abilities exhibit are steps to a much “bigger picture;” she aspires to be a professional artist and sell her work regularly. Two of Selina’s pieces— “Forest” and “Earth” were chosen for the showcase and feature a “sandwich art” painting style where she sandwiches two canvases together to move her selection of colors around for her desired design effect.

 

Other participating artists found themselves experiencing a full-circle moment in the Art Abilities showcase—like Duncan Campling, who previously received rehabilitation support at Bryn Mawr Rehab after experiencing two brain stem strokes and developing locked-in syndrome. Now, years later, his pieces —“The Forest” and “Poppy Field” —are testaments to his recovery and continued progress regaining the use of his fine motor skills; including his ability to hold and paint with a paint brush and play a guitar in the Inglis House band.  

For all the participants in this year’s Art Abilities showcase their art has become a part of a collection of inspiration for so many patrons and patients alike. Together, they remind us all that creativity has the power to transform struggle into beauty—and that every challenge carries the potential to become a work of art.  

For more information on the Bryn Mawr Art Abilities program or to purchase the art of the participating artists, please visit Bryn Mawr Rehab’s website. For information on Inglis House’s art program please visit www.inglis.org/inglishouse.