Sharing the stories of local artists who are making an impact on the community. Love From USA’s Founder and CEO, Patricia Chinander, believes cancer research, awareness, and monetary support is crucial, and has actively supported this initiative within her business. To continue making a difference, Love From USA is launching a project celebrating and featuring artists experiencing cancer and donating to organizations important to them.
Our first featured artist is Lisa Kirkbride—an artist, activist, and breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed two years ago with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), a rare pediatric brain cancer, Lisa has continued to radiate joy and positivity through her work, life, and art.
Lisa began painting during Covid as a creative outlet and has found joy in this pastime ever since! Inspired by her travels, Lisa creates modern, contemporary paintings. She has painted mountains from her trip to Chamonix, France; boats from her travels to Switzerland; and after visiting Arizona, she crafted a modern abstract lotus using homemade ink from clay—a fitting metaphor for resilience, as the lotus flower emerges from murky waters to bloom into a beautiful flower.
Many of Lisa’s designs incorporate her cancer radiation mask into her artwork, using it to add texture and tell a deeper story. These masks, worn daily for six weeks during radiation treatment, offer stability for the head and neck during chemotherapy. By embedding this symbol in her work, Lisa raises awareness of rare cancers that are often overlooked and underfunded.
Lisa has a long-standing connection with Love From USA —she and Pat, the Founder and CEO, are cousins. In fact, Lisa previously worked with Pat at her original paperweight business at Ridgedale Center. In the New Year, Love From USA will be partnering with Lisa by selling exclusive products with her art in-store and online. Lisa’s work represents embracing joy, pivoting through challenges, and being resilient. The upcoming partnership will celebrate these key values and themes.
It’s amazing to see this journey come full circle. Reflecting her passion, Lisa shares, “Let’s raise some money for research!” Through this partnership, Love From USA will support organizations close to Lisa’s heart: Humor to Fight the Tumor, The Cure Starts Now, and the American Brain Tumor Association.
Humor To Fight the Tumor: “Our mission is dedicated to funding research and patient services that will improve the lives of brain tumor patients. We do this by raising awareness, providing support and encouragement, and offering uplifting events that provide a sense of community and hope to affected individuals and families.”
The Cure Starts Now: “The Cure Starts Now represents something truly different – a grassroots effort dedicated to, not just fighting one cancer, but the elimination of ALL cancers. We believe as the experts do; that in order to truly cure cancer you have to focus on those cancer that are immune to treatment, those cancers that also affect children, and those cancers that are the biggest bullies with the highest death rate.”
American Brain Tumor Association: “The mission of the American Brain Tumor Association is to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors with the goals of improving, extending and, ultimately, saving the lives of those impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis. We do this through interactions and engagements with brain tumor patients and their families, collaborations with allied groups and organizations, and the funding of brain tumor research.”
Love From USA is honored to support these impactful organizations and collaborate with an artist who embodies joy and resilience. Stay tuned for Lisa’s exclusive collection launching soon, and in the meantime, follow her journey on her blog, “The Joy Phenomenon,” to see how she continues to inspire others.
