Angelik is a poet and a painter who is inspired by sunsets and being outdoors. Angelik will be celebrating her 23rd birthday this September. She shares that after battling cancer and becoming paralyzed “I’ve been through a lot more than the average 22 year old. I started moving more even though I’m supposed to be paralyzed. I can move my arms. I became Prom Queen at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore’s prom. I am here.”

Whether she is having a picnic near her home in Central Park, enjoying conversation with friends and family or adding to her growing sock monkey collection, Angelik is beating the odds! Angelik said “I have used art through difficult times.” Art has always been a part of Angelik’s focus and she would “paint and draw to forget what was going on.” She said “I love to do art in the middle of the day, when everyone is busy. I can observe what they are doing, what they’re wearing. It gives me ideas about what to draw or paint. I love using pastels to reflect the colors of daylight. Pastels can be oily or dry, so they can be very expressive.” Angelik appreciates art because it shows the way she feels. Another inspiration for her is being an aunt. She is a big part of the lives of 10 nieces and nephews. She says “It can be hard to make me smile, but babies always do.”

When asked what she would want others to know about her she said “I’m much stronger than what people think.” Angelik truly is an inspiration to many. ArtWorks is thrilled to have Angelik participating in her first Express Yourself show this May!

Title: Rainbow Night
“One night has different perspectives from different eyes. For me, the stars look different colors in the sky, not just white. It shows that night is not only dark-there are many colors that make up the night.”