New York City

“The main challenge in my life has been my health. I’ve been able to address bipolar disorder and its everyday challenges directly in my artwork.”

Terese Hanley began making art after being inspired by a show at the Museum of Modern Art. She uses her creative process as an outlet to express, understand, and share her experiences with bipolar disorder. Terese’s work is largely autobiographical, encompassing her struggles and triumphs with mania, depression, and everyday life.

“When I work, I am focused and happy. Art gives me a release, a sense of accomplishment and something to share. Those are all important things to me.”

Terese’s work covers a wide range of styles, from photography to mixed media. Often, she serves as creative director, set designer, wardrobe designer, and subject for her photography shoots before experimenting with the resulting photos.

Terese was born and raised in New York City, where she currently resides. She graduated from Fordham College at Lincoln Center with a B.A. in Visual Arts and a concentration in Photography. She has also studied photography, printmaking, and painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, the California College of Arts, and the School of Visual Arts. She is a member at the Fountain House Gallery, which provides an environment for artists living and working with mental illness to pursue their personal visions and to challenge the stigma that surrounds mental health issues.