In honor of Rare Disease Month, we are proud to announce our February exhibition, featuring the work of Peter Sonenshein, a Philadelphia artist living with familial dysautonomia.

On Thursday, February 1st, from 6-8pm, join us in celebration of Peter’s “VISIONS FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN,” a body of work made, in part, behind the hospital curtain.

Peter Sonenshein’s life story is one of resilience and inspiration. Despite being diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Familial Dysautonomia (FD) at a later age in childhood, he was able to lead a relatively normal life with the help of support and private schooling. However, the onset of uncontrollable surges in brain chemicals called dysautonomic crises drastically changed Peter’s life. These crises caused physical and existential misery, and Peter has lived with them for the last twenty-two years.

Despite the challenges he faced, Peter managed to maintain a positive outlook on life and pursue his passions. He found solace in art, which he started creating in his late twenties. Even though he is often homebound with nurses around the clock, Peter has managed to create enough artwork to display at various exhibits, including contributing to The Pennsylvania Innocence Project by painting portraits of three exonerates and displayed his work at The Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s opening of REEL ABILITIES, the Philadelphia Disability Film Festival in March of 2014.

The most recent show of Peter’s was sponsored by The Familial Dysautonomia Foundation and showcased the works of five artists living with FD. The one-day exhibit took place in the spring of 2019 at The ALLOUCHE GALLERY in New York City, located across from The Whitney Museum.