Subliminal Sunflowers: A Retrospective – Paintings by Lesli Bailey

My parents dedicated their entire life to making the world we lived in a beautiful garden of flowers. My life journey has not always been easy. Dealing with two battles at the same time, I knew I needed to beat this cancer and remove a toxic relationship from my life.

During my cancer journey, I started to attend art therapy workshops at the U-M Rogel Cancer Center. After 20 years without making art, the opportunity awoke a gift I always had. As a naturally creative person, I became inspired to paint because it was the medium that most challenged me. I figured the only way to get better was to do it every day, so I began to paint my garden.
Nature is not always perfect; therefore, I find beauty in the colors and patterns of florals. I took to painting as kind of a meditation, to help paint out my feelings. The first four were emotional pieces. Some are self-reflections, the rebirth of a new chapter of my life, or painted in honor of a loved one. I’ve come a long way in my journey, and am grateful for programs like this because it really has helped me.

– Lesli Bailey, November 2019

Lesli’s artwork showed her love for flowers. Throughout her journey she painted to cope with the stress of cancer and life. It brought her joy and peace to be painting. This particular project she painted on and off for the past couple years as her cancer progressed. She was a true fighter after being told only 1 to 4 years survival she fought for 7 years. Throughout those 7 years she created some beautiful paintings to remember her by. The sunflowers represent many things strength, beauty and her true feelings about cancer. So be a Sunflower so even on the darkest days you will stand tall and find the light!

– Kari Sawle (sister) on behalf of Lesli Bailey, 2023