Portraits show "A Little Piece of Me"

They say a picture is worth a thousand words but the portraits featured in the A Little Piece of Me exhibition are worth so much more.

The pixel portraits, which feature patients cared for by our Paediatric Palliative Care teams, are made up of hundreds of tiny images that tell a story not only of each patient's journey, but of the things that have shaped their identity, celebrating family, friends, hobbies and above all, their unique and inspiring personality. 

The art project is a collaboration between artist Andrew Christie, the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation Art Program, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Palliative Care teams and – for the first time - John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

This exhibition is being held concurrently with displays at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (SCH), The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW), Bear Cottage, and John Hunter Children’s Hospital. While current circumstances mean limiting the number of visitors entering our Hospitals, the exhibition can also be viewed online. 

View the exhibition.

Eight-year-old Eve is one of more than 70 patients featured in this year's exhibition. Eve, who is cared for at SCH, has down-syndrome alongside many different illnesses that require her to have round-the-clock care.

Her mum Franny says the project has been a lovely way to celebrate Eve and all the incredible people who have been their throughout her journey.

"This project gave us the time to look at what has been most important to us as a family, and Eve as a person.

"We have had so much phenomenal support and it has been really lovely for this be included and to be part of it."

Seven-year-old Mitchell's mum, Erin, said she too felt privileged to be part of such a special project.

Mitchell, who was cared for at CHW, sadly passed away at the end of last year after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

“We were invited to participate after Mitchel had passed away. It was nice to have a positive focus and look at photos which made him who he was – and not focus on what was lost”

"This portrait sits in the middle of the house, right in the middle of the action. We can still see his face and feel like a piece of him is here with us,” Erin said.

A Little Piece of Me is an initiative of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and has been supported by the NSW Government’s $100 million enhancement to palliative care (2017-18 to 2020-21) and The Nicholas Trust and Photoking Randwick.