Celiac Disease: The Impact of Gluten

Celiac Disease has been in my life for many years.  Through my art, I want to depict the way in which I experience this disease. Each piece depicts a specific bodily response to Celiac including the intestine, brain inflammation, brain fog, and infertility. Using more mixed media applications, each piece shows the complexity of this disease. Layering mediums such as watercolor, gel pen and stamping gives each piece the complexity that comes with this disease. Along with the layering, my process gives a sense of disorientation which can be felt in many impacts relating to this disease. Using a variety of colors helps to create a certain mood and tone for each one of the pieces. Physical and mental responses to Celiac correspond to certain colors such as red, green or blue.  Through my work, I hope to start a conversation about Celiac Disease  through the more intense use of color and layering. With these pieces, I want the audience to realize the disease is not something that can be considered a health fad but is way more important.

Thesis Committee Members:

Professor Soon Ee Nogh, Chair

Professor Angela Latham

Doctor Jenna Altomonte

Small Intestine

Green intestines with a white intestine overlay over the top

Inflammation

Rows of side profile brains with a red background and blue inside brain

Brain Fog

Side profile brain with blues and whites surrounding

Infertility

Uterus with hints of pink, red, green and yellow.

Anemia

Red blood cells with hints of blue including the blue veins running through the piece.

Joints

Hip joint with hints of blue and purple with a bright green background

Villi

Intestines with different tones of green and a dark red and purple overlay of villi over top