A cultural platform where art becomes infrastructure for awareness, dialogue, and lasting change.
FLARE brings art, lived experience, education and advocacy into conversation around endometriosis — a space for artists, writers and people living with chronic illness to express, document and reinterpret what is so often left unseen.
We work through exhibitions, a journal, public conversations, publications and film. The first chapter opened in New York in September 2026.
The First Chapter
FLARE: Illuminating Endometriosis
The inaugural exhibition · 2026
September 17–19, 2026
The Sixth Floor Loft, 873 Broadway · New York City
For three days in September, work by more than thirty artists hung in the same rooms as surgeons, advocates and people living with the disease. The works, photographs and conversations are kept here.
By the Numbers
The first chapter in figures
Every figure below comes from the exhibition record and FLARE’s own publications.
30+
Artists
Visual, fashion and jewelry artists
13
Countries
From Peru to the Faroe Islands
3
Days
September 17–19, 2026
34
Works
In the exhibition collection
3
Public conversations
A keynote and two panels
10
Speakers & panelists
Clinicians, artists and advocates
4
Performers
Live music and performance art
46
Partners & supporters
Organizations that made it possible
Attendance and audience figures will be published in the 2026 Impact Report, which is in preparation.
The Work
What FLARE does
FLARE works through a set of lasting programs rather than a single event, so the conversation continues between exhibitions.
Exhibitions
The first chapter, Illuminating Endometriosis, New York 2026, is held in the archive. The next exhibition is in development.
In development 02The Journal
Essays, artist stories, field notes and research, published on Substack since March 2026.
Current 03Conversations
Inside FLARE, the podcast, alongside the public conversations held at the exhibition.
Current 04Publications
Flourish Through the Fire, a creative wellness journal by FLARE’s founder, Priscilla Smith.
Current 05Audio & Film
The Way Through, a documentary about the making of the first exhibition, is in development.
In development 06Community
Virtual creative workshops, and the volunteers, artists and partners who make each chapter possible.
UpcomingRead & Listen
The FLARE Journal and Inside FLARE
30 essays and stories and 16 podcast episodes since March 2026, on art, the body and the long road to diagnosis.
FLARE Journal
Art · Endometriosis · Culture · Ideas
Essays
Misdiagnosis, Misinformation, and Misogyny
Reclaiming the endometriosis narrative.
Jul 13, 2026Read ↗
(opens in a new tab)
Artist Stories
Her Paintings Say What People With Chronic Illness Have Been Trying to Explain for Years
KYRIANNA’s surreal mixed media work and the emotional reality of chronic illness.
May 26, 2026Read ↗
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Field Notes
The Art Exhibition Exists Long Before the Opening Reception
A private invitation into the live planning of FLARE’s first exhibition.
Jun 28, 2026Read ↗
(opens in a new tab)Inside FLARE
The podcast
Creating a Life Beyond Chronic Illness: A Conversation with Racheli
Endometriosis, entrepreneurship and the conversation that changed things.
Jul 15, 202642 min (opens in a new tab)
Building Something Bigger than Ourselves: Behind the Scenes of Curating a Global Endometriosis Art Exhibition
How two women built an art experience reaching across the world.
Jun 25, 202621 min (opens in a new tab)
Diagnosed at 16, Creating Through Chronic Illness: Indian Artist Prajakta’s Endometriosis Story
May 27, 202641 min (opens in a new tab)
Stories, artists, ideas and new FLARE programs, delivered occasionally.
What’s Next
Current, upcoming and in development
Only what is confirmed appears here. Dates and details are announced first through the FLARE Journal.
FLARE Journal & Inside FLARE
New essays, artist stories and conversations continue on Substack and in the podcast, including a post-exhibition series returning to the first chapter.
Virtual creative workshops
Online sessions that bring FLARE’s creative practice to people who cannot be in the room. Dates will be announced through the Journal.
The Way Through
A documentary film co-directed by Amanda Fuller and Priscilla Smith, following the people who built the first exhibition.
The next exhibition
The second chapter is being planned. Artists, partners and venues will be announced when confirmed.
The Founder
One person started it. A community built it. An institution is emerging.
Priscilla Smith is an artist, educator and the founder of FLARE. She paints, sculpts and welds, and she has always worked in more than one material at a time.
After years of living with endometriosis, and a complicated excision surgery, she kept meeting other people with the same disease who felt reduced to a diagnosis. She started FLARE so the rest of the experience could be seen.
Partners
Partners of the first chapter
Forty-six organizations supported the exhibition: surgeons and clinics, advocacy groups, wellness brands, makers and community partners.
Presenting sponsors
Lead sponsors
Supporting the cultural infrastructure around endometriosis.
FLARE is sustained by individuals, foundations and partners who believe the experience of this disease belongs in cultural life, not only in clinics.