Figures of Hope Project

Figures of Hope Project
multiple artists

February through March, 2022

figure of hope filled with the graphics like the US flag, the symbol for Wonder Woman and other heroic or inspiring symbols

About this collection

This exhibition’s collection of images is a sample of the Figures of Hope art project. The Patient and Family Support Services’ Art Therapy program implemented the project in 2020 shortly after COVID-19 pandemic began.

figure of hope with hair made of cancer ribbons, zebra pants and a bright pink shirt

When social distancing began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to launch this community project to represent our collective hope at a time when many felt disconnected and unsure. The pandemic quickly moved the world to a place where people were working from home, rather than together in offices, we only went out when necessary and connected digitally via zoom rather than in person. This Figures of Hope project was a way for us to reconnect with our wider community and create something positive and reassuring during this challenging time.

We invited Michigan Medicine staff, patients, family, and friends to join us in creating a non-gender-specific figure. We asked people to add colors, symbols, images and/or words around and within the figure’s body outline. In early 2022 we reintroduced this project to ring in the new year and keep the hope going. Nearly 100 figures have been created thus far.

You are invited to visit the entire collection of figures from 2020 -2022 on the Figures of Hope gallery page. Here you can also access the Figures of Hope outlines to create your own. Please feel free to submit your contribution to add to our online exhibition; and thank you to those who have already contributed to the gallery.

The Voices Art Gallery is located on level B1 of the Rogel Cancer Center Building.
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The Voices Art Gallery is offered by the Rogel Cancer Center Art Therapy Program and is made possible by gifts to the Helen and Sonya Fund and the Rogel Cancer Center Art Therapy Program. Program supplies are generously supported by the Robert Bruce Dunlap Memorial Fund.

Learn more about how you can make a gift to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.