Art Heals: ‘Seen/Unseen’ Brings Perinatal Stories into the Light

A new exhibition pairs artists with families to illuminate the hidden emotional toll of pregnancy loss, postpartum struggles and infant death.

There are stories that rarely get told, not because they are unimportant, but because grief, especially the kind tied to pregnancy and infant loss, tends to live in silence. This spring, a new exhibition at the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is working to change that.

“Seen/Unseen”, on view from April 24 to June 13, is a collaborative exhibition born from a partnership between CCA and the Perinatal CARE Foundation. The project pairs professional artists with families who have navigated complicated pregnancies, postpartum depression and anxiety and infant loss, creating original works of art that interpret and honor each family’s journey.

“We saw a powerful opportunity to use contemporary art as a bridge between personal experience, healing and public awareness,” said Hayley Gildersleeve, executive director of the CCA. The project was developed alongside Jessica Jacob, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of the Perinatal CARE Foundation, whose mission is to provide compassionate mental health care to mothers and families facing the often-invisible emotional realities of perinatal trauma.

In total, 15 families were paired with nine artists drawn from the CCA’s Artist Membership. The process began with a facilitated meeting where families shared their experiences at their own pace while artists listened, asked gentle questions and explored symbolic associations: colors, objects, music and moments of comfort that could inform their creative work. From those conversations, each artist created an original piece rooted in a family’s lived experience.

The exhibition is as thoughtful in its presentation as it is in its creation. Before the public opening, each participating family received a private viewing of the artwork made in their honor, a quiet moment of recognition before their story became part of a larger community conversation.

Beyond the artwork itself, “Seen/Unseen” is designed to serve as a bridge for visitors who may be silently struggling. Throughout the run of the exhibition, educational materials, referrals and information about Perinatal CARE’s therapy services and support groups will be available on site, making the gallery a space not just for viewing, but for connecting.

The CCA has long been committed to art that engages with the full breadth of human experience. Founded in 1989 and rooted in a tradition of supporting working artists and community connection, the organization has spent decades building gallery and studio space in Abilene’s downtown cultural district. “Seen/Unseen” represents one of its most personal projects to date.

“The goals are twofold,” Gildersleeve explained. “To increase public awareness of the often-overlooked emotional realities surrounding pregnancy and infant loss, and to explore the role of art as a meaningful tool for reflection, processing and healing.”

For the families involved, that healing has already begun. And for everyone else, the exhibition opens the door.

“Seen/Unseen” opens April 24 and runs through June 13 at the Center for Contemporary Arts (220 Cypress St.). For hours and information about other exhibits, visit center-arts.com. For more information about the Perinatal CARE Foundation’s support services, visit them at perinatal-care.com.

Contributed By The Center For Contemporary Arts