Breast Cancer Survivors Exhibition

Dallas artists, cancer survivors, nonprofit support groups, and Art on Main Gallery come together for mindful healing retreat and exhibition, providing a healing journey for those affected by breast cancer.

Each person’s breast cancer journey is marked with complex experiences and moments of healing and resilience. This October, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Art on Main Gallery at 4428 Main Street in Dallas will host “The HeART of Resilience,” an exhibition opening October 21, 2025, that visually narrates the transformative journey of breast cancer survivors as they reclaim themselves after surgery.

Dallas breast cancer survivors partner with local artists and nonprofits

Two-time breast cancer survivor Andrea Lamarsaude, artist and founder of Art on Main, will curate the HeART of Resilience exhibition in collaboration with the nonprofit community support group Flaunt Flat Revolution (founded by survivor-advocate Farahana Kassam) and artist Rachel Larlee, founder of Rachel Larlee Studio. Together, they are pioneering a new form of art therapy and creating a compelling visual dialogue celebrating survivors’ empowerment.

Therapeutic art retreat offers creative healing for cancer survivors

Through a therapeutic art retreat and creative workshop coinciding with the exhibition, artist Rachel Larlee and psychologist Alyssa Strenger will lead a transformative art project supporting those affected by breast cancer. Held in a peaceful art studio in East Dallas, the retreat offers rest, creative expression, and connection. Participants will explore their personal journeys using fabric, stitching, and mixed media to express their stories on canvas. Together, the collaborators will also create an interactive installation, providing a powerful visual testament to healing and community.

“Art has been an incredible source of healing for me. Through my work, I aim to inspire, comfort, and coach others to discover their own creative expression and healing journey,” said Larlee. “There is significant mindful healing through the creative process. In this special experience we are providing a reflective space where individuals can find comfort, share their experiences, and contribute to artwork that brings visibility to their own journey.”

Rachel Larlee Studio: East Dallas art education and therapy

Rachel Larlee Studio in East Dallas offers group classes, private instruction, and mindful art programs for all ages. Founded by mixed media artist and educator Rachel Larlee after relocating from England 10 years ago, the studio reflects her English hospitality and creative approach. Her work emphasizes the meditative and healing aspects of stitching, layered with personal and cultural narratives in her mixed media art, and her belief in helping others explore the healing power of creativity.

Interactive art installation benefits breast cancer support organizations

The interactive installation created by retreat participants will be part of the October exhibition at Art on Main Gallery, on view October 21 through November 7, 2025. Exhibition attendees can participate in a similar interactive artwork of their own to experience the healing process of art therapy. The final piece will be auctioned off during the closing reception November 7 to benefit local nonprofit breast cancer support groups, like Flaunt Flat Revolution.

Flaunt Flat Revolution: Empowering informed surgical decisions

“Our mission at Flaunt Flat Revolution is to help women with breast cancer make informed surgical decisions about their bodies, leading to a greater sense of empowerment and self-acceptance, says co-founder Farahana Kassam.” Our journey of healing is a process of recognizing our beauty from the inside out, and our supportive community celebrates and reminds women of their beauty beyond their breasts,” said Kassam.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, Kassam is a contributor to the Cancer Survivors Plaza mural in Downtown Dallas and a juror for the HeART of Resilience exhibition. She challenges conventional beauty standards and advocates for empowering women to make informed surgical decisions, considering aesthetic flat closure as a way of revolutionizing how we define beauty. With a focus on patient advocacy, mentorship, and resource sharing, the Flaunt Flat Revolution community provides caregiver support, retreats, volunteer engagement, and more.

Diverse art forms celebrate survival and body positivity

“The HeART of Resilience” exhibition goes beyond showcasing art—it brings together survivors, young creators, and seasoned artists to share stories of strength and transformation. The works, spanning painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media, honor the bravery it takes to make informed choices, redefine personal attractiveness, and embrace new chapters in life after breast cancer treatment.

“The exhibition welcomes young artists and emerging talent to share their unique perspectives alongside seasoned creators, weaving a tapestry of perspectives that celebrates the many forms resilience can take,” said Lamarsaude. “These works will create a powerful dialogue that uplifts all paths of survival, embracing confidence, body positivity, and the human spirit’s remarkable ability to thrive.”

Opening reception and exhibition details

Guests are invited to attend an opening reception October 25, 2025, from 6-9 p.m. to view the collection and meet the artists. All exhibited works are available for purchase.

Exhibition dates: October 21 – November 7, 2025
Location: Art on Main Gallery, 4428 Main Street, Suite 200, Dallas, TX
Closing reception and auction: November 7, 2025

Learn more about the exhibition details, therapeutic retreat registration, and ways to support breast cancer survivors throught art