About Project TheraPaint

Rawan Ita-Diaz is an Iraqi-born artist based in Detroit, whose expressive watercolor paintings reflect the truths of life. A painter with a purpose, she creates art that reveals the good, the bad, and everything in between. Grounded in her Master’s Degree in Architecture & Design from Lawrence Technological University, she approaches her work with both structure and empathy, using her creative practice to tell the stories of joy, sorrow, pride, and grief that we all carry. Rawan entered the role of artist and advocate after a traumatic accident changed her life. In 2017, she was struck by an SUV while walking to work. Her injuries affected her mobility and introduced her to life with chronic pain. Isolated and hurting, she fell into depression and searched for purpose within her new circumstances. It was then that she found therapeutic art. Rawan’s experiences inspired her to support others who felt lost and hopeless. In 2020, she co-founded The Art Spread, a nonprofit that empowers artists with adversity and transforms communities through art. Today, Rawan’s emotionally evocative watercolor paintings are translated into heartfelt greeting cards that allow people to share meaningful moments with others. Her work resonates with collectors and retailers who value art that is authentic and compassionate. Her pieces have been exhibited and published internationally, sharing a message of healing, hope, and connection.Read their story