Art Scene & Seen: Kate Van Doren Brings The Healing Words Project To Museo De Arte De Querétaro

By Meryl Truett

This March, the Museo de Arte de Querétaro will open its doors to a powerful and deeply humanistic exhibition by celebrated artist and art therapist Kate Van Doren. Titled The Healing Words Project, the show marks a major solo museum presentation of Van Doren’s visionary work—a culmination of years of collaboration, storytelling, and artistic exploration rooted in empowerment, resilience, and connection. This is more than an art exhibition—it’s a global initiative that invites participants to reclaim their voices through art. Originally developed in collaboration with women and genderexpansive individuals around the world, this project blends photography, painting, drawing, and personal narrative into a cohesive body of work that celebrates lived experience. Each piece draws directly from conversations between Van Doren and her collaborators, integrating self-authored words and reflections into the visual narrative itself.

In Kate’s own words, “The Healing Words Project began in 2019 when I was covering the national protests in San Miguel and México City for “Un Día Sin Mujeres” — “A Day Without Women.” Women wrote mantras of empowerment and healing on their arms, reclaiming their stories in real time. I was deeply moved by the power of those words. I saw how speaking and declaring one’s truth was healing not only for the woman sharing it, but also for those who witnessed it. That moment became the foundation of the project. Since then, I have photographed more than 2,000 women. Many I have also painted or drawn. Most participants have shared their stories on The Healing Words Project website, creating a growing archive of resilience and transformation.”

The works in this exhibition document journeys of struggle and healing, offering audiences an intimate look at stories rarely seen in institutional art settings. From large-scale paintings and intimate drawings to evocative photographic portraits, the exhibition is both visually compelling and emotionally rich.

Opening During International Women’s Month

Scheduled to open on March 6, 2026, The Healing Words Project coincides with International Women’s Month, making its presence at the museum especially timely. Through its focus on resilience and the empowerment of women and gender-expansive voices, the exhibition contributes to broader conversations about human rights, healing after trauma, and the role of art in fostering community and empathy. Van Doren’s work will be complemented by the artist’s own painting, a video interview, and her personal narrative, creating a dynamic blend of voice, image, and reflection that invites viewers into shared experience.

About the Artist

Kate Van Doren is an American-born artist based between San Miguel de Allende, México and the Pacific Northwest. With academic training in both fine art and psychology and over two decades of experience as a registered art therapist, her practice bridges artistic expression with emotional healing. Through her unique approach—often described as empathic realism—she brings to life the inner worlds of her collaborators, magnifying their stories with sensitivity and depth. Van Doren’s work has been shown in galleries and museums across North America, Europe, and México and has been featured internationally in publications and exhibitions. She is also the founder of The Healing Words Project, which to date has worked with thousands of participants.

The Healing Words ProjectOpening: March 6^th, 2026Museo de Arte de Querétaro

Kate Van Doren’s exhibition promisesto be unforgettable —where art and lived experience come together to illuminate what it means to heal, share, and connect.

Meryl Truett is an artist andworkshop instructor. meryl@merytruett.comwww.meryltruett.com