Women's Empowerment Art Therapy Group

Led by Visual AIDS Artist Member and activist, Shirlene Cooper, the monthly Women's Empowerment Art Therapy Group uses the power of art-making to reduce stigma, build community, and empower women living with HIV. The group was started by Shirlene Cooper in her living room in 2018 with a small group of women, and soon became a program of Visual AIDS shortly thereafter.

The first hour of each workshop includes shared discussions of success and stresses, shared affirmations, and a presentation by an expert in fields such as nutrition, housing, and activism. The second hour features an art making project. Some projects have included painting on canvas, mask making, stained glass window design, cyanotype photographs, and hand painted t-shirts and tote bags. Participants at all levels are welcome - from those who are making art for the first time, to those who may already enjoy making or studying art.

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the workshops took place over Zoom. Since artmaking was more difficult in this context, groups focused on looking at and discussing artworks together. There were also opportunities for artmaking, as we sent supplies to group members to make work at home. Visual AIDS returned to in-person workshops in summer 2021.

Workshops take place in New York City at partner organization paces as well as art museums. Partner spaces have included MoMA/PS1, Queens Museum, Bronx Museum, Brooklyn Museum, MoCADA, Recess, Iris House, GMHC, CAMBA, the NYC Department of Health, and Baruch College.

If you are a woman living with HIV and are interested in learning more about and/or participating in a workshop, please contact Shirlene at scooper1123@gmail.com or Blake Paskal at bpaskal@visualaids.org.

The monthly Women's Empowerment Art Therapy Group is funded in part by a multi-year grant from ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action Risk to Reasons Initiative. Past funders and supporters include The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, the New York City Council, Blick Art Materials and Tish & Snooky's Manic Panic NYC.