We live in and navigate so many interconnected systems to survive and thrive. No one knows this better than Jess Walters (they/them). A Deaf, queer and neurodivergent mixed-media artist, Jess is also a Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) and independent scholar from Charlottesville, Virginia. They began using art as a tool for introspection and meditation in 2018 during a period of kidney failure. As an Arts Research Fellow at the Center for Health Humanities and Ethics, Jess works to assess and improve accessibility in Charlottesville’s creative arts spaces. They also serve as a patient representative on the Rare Disease Advisory Panel for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and on the Kidney Advisory Committee DEI Advisory Board for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Their artwork has been exhibited at venues including The Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Second Street Gallery and New City Arts Initiative. Through their art and advocacy, Jess explores the intersections of art and health, bringing a unique perspective to their creative practice.
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