In this interview for Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Shari La Shae, a 30-year-old self-taught abstract artist and muralist from Trinidad & Tobago who shares her profound journey of using creativity as a pathway to healing.
Over 16 million Caribbean people suffer from anxiety and depression while facing significant barriers to care, including accessibility challenges, affordability issues, and persistent stigma. Shari’s story offers hope and alternative approaches to wellbeing.
The conversation explores how this talented mental health advocate discovered abstract art as her “safe space” and therapeutic outlet, using her vibrant creations to process complex emotions and find peace amid personal struggles. Her artwork, characterised by dynamic movement, rich texture, and bold colours, mirrors her philosophy that creativity can illuminate even the darkest moments.
Shari candidly discusses how her artistic practice evolved from personal therapy to becoming a powerful tool for advocacy, helping others see mental health challenges through a lens of compassion and possibility rather than shame.