About This Event
The Space Between the Storms: Borderline Personality Disorder Beyond the Moments You See
2026 Emotions Matter BPD Art Festival
A Virtual, Two-Night Festival
October 27 and 28 via Zoom
7 PM ET / 6 PM CT / 5 PM MT / 4 PM PT
About the Art Show:
The storms are real. So is everything around them.
The 2026 BPD Art Festival, The Space Between the Storms, looks at what life with BPD is like beyond the moments most visible to others. Some pieces are the storms themselves. Others capture the calm, the ordinary days, and the work of recovery and finding your sense of self. Every piece was created by someone impacted by BPD, whether through their own lived experience, someone they love, or their professional work, and every piece has a story.
This is our 5th BPD Art Show and this year, we're celebrating with a virtual festival. Night One is the art show and artist showcase. Night Two is a panel with select artists on creativity and recovery.
Opening Night: The Art Show and Artist Showcase
Tuesday, October 27 at 7 PM ET, about 90 minutes
What can art say about the experience of BPD that words sometimes cannot?
Opening night brings the exhibit to life. Our curator, Ellen Mattesi, guides us through this year’s selected works with the artists who made them, one piece at a time. In a fast-paced showcase format, we’ll move from piece to piece, giving each participating artist a minute or two to share what inspired their work and what it means to them.
You will see the work, hear from the people behind it, and come away with a fuller picture of what life with BPD can look like, in the storms and in between.
Night Two: Meet the Artists and the Stories Behind the Art
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM ET, about 75 minutes
How can creating art support connection and recovery?
Join us for the closing night of The Space Between the Storms: Borderline Personality Disorder Beyond the Moments You See and hear from a few of the artists behind the exhibit. In this moderated panel led by our curator, Ellen Mattesi, the artists will talk with each other about their creative process, the experiences that shaped their work, and what it means to create art connected to BPD, through their own journey or through someone they love.
Expect a lighter, hopeful evening focused on creativity and recovery. The artists will share how they make creativity part of their lives, what creating gives them, and how art can help them feel connected and supported. Whether you’ve been creating for years or haven’t picked up a crayon since grade school, you’ll come away with ideas and inspiration to bring more creativity into your own life.
We’ll end the evening with a live audience Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from the artists.
About the Format:
Each night offers a different way to experience the exhibit.
Opening night is a fast-paced artist showcase. Guided by our curator, we’ll move through the exhibit one piece at a time, giving participating artists a minute or two to share the meaning and inspiration behind their work.
Night two slows things down for a deeper conversation with a smaller group of artists about creativity, connection and recovery, followed by a live audience Q&A.
Both nights close with an invitation to keep exploring the virtual gallery.
Meet the Curator - Ellen Mattesi:
Ellen Mattesi
Ellen Mattesi is an artist and entrepreneur who has been immersed in the professional art world for over 30 years. Across her own fine art and creative career, she has built and managed design companies and art institutions, curated exhibitions, mentored artists in technical expertise and business skills, and fostered creativity for ethnically and mentally diverse communities.
Ellen has spent many years in the BPD community, both as an art teacher and as a parent of a child with BPD. Presently she is creating a new collection of fine art while championing women artists through her network, Black House Market.
This is the 5th BPD Art Show Ellen has led for Emotions Matter. We are grateful for the time and talent she volunteers to support our artists and community.
Registration & Event Informtion
Registration Fees:
- BPD Lived Experience: $40
- General Admission: $50
Wondering What Your Registration Fees Go Toward?:
Your registration does more than secure your spot at the 2026 BPD Art Festival - it helps keep our peer support groups free and accessible to anyone who needs them, and supports the resources Emotions Matter provides to the BPD community throughout the year. Every ticket helps sustain the programs, training, and outreach that make our work possible. Thank you for being part of it!
Those who register will be emailed the Zoom meeting link with instructions on the registration receipt and will receive a reminder email prior to the event.
Disclaimer:
This event does not take the place of medical advice or treatment. There will be resources available for those seeking more information about BPD and support. Registrants will be asked to complete a post-event survey to provide feedback about the event experience and help Emotions Matter learn more about the needs of the BPD community.
Registration Policy:
Registration fees are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend the live event, a recording will be emailed to all registered participants following the event.
Emotions Matter Community Group Guidelines:
1. Your safety and well-being, as well as the safety of the event, is important to us.
2. Use respectful language. Words and body language matter. Be mindful of how others can interpret your communication.
3. We accept differences and promote acceptance, especially with regard to gender, sexual orientation, identity, race, ethnicity, age, religion, or politics.
4. Respect confidentiality. No photographs of other event participants.
5. Avoid making assumptions about other people’s experience of BPD. No judgment.
6. Show kindness and compassion for others who are struggling.
7. All are welcome to share via the chat and Q/A features, but participation is optional. No one person should monopolize the event time.
8. Avoid interrupting, which can make other event participants feel invalidated.
9. Avoid explicit expressions of self-harm or trauma, which may be upsetting to others.
10. If at any point you express concerns about your safety, we will offer support. If your emotions escalate and we are not able to comfort you, we will encourage you to reach out to your support system or consult a mental health professional.
Questions? Email info@emotionsmatterbpd.org.
About This Event
The Space Between the Storms: Borderline Personality Disorder Beyond the Moments You See
2026 Emotions Matter BPD Art Festival
A Virtual, Two-Night Festival
October 27 and 28 via Zoom
7 PM ET / 6 PM CT / 5 PM MT / 4 PM PT
About the Art Show:
The storms are real. So is everything around them.
The 2026 BPD Art Festival, The Space Between the Storms, looks at what life with BPD is like beyond the moments most visible to others. Some pieces are the storms themselves. Others capture the calm, the ordinary days, and the work of recovery and finding your sense of self. Every piece was created by someone impacted by BPD, whether through their own lived experience, someone they love, or their professional work, and every piece has a story.
This is our 5th BPD Art Show and this year, we're celebrating with a virtual festival. Night One is the art show and artist showcase. Night Two is a panel with select artists on creativity and recovery.
Opening Night: The Art Show and Artist Showcase
Tuesday, October 27 at 7 PM ET, about 90 minutes
What can art say about the experience of BPD that words sometimes cannot?
Opening night brings the exhibit to life. Our curator, Ellen Mattesi, guides us through this year’s selected works with the artists who made them, one piece at a time. In a fast-paced showcase format, we’ll move from piece to piece, giving each participating artist a minute or two to share what inspired their work and what it means to them.
You will see the work, hear from the people behind it, and come away with a fuller picture of what life with BPD can look like, in the storms and in between.
Night Two: Meet the Artists and the Stories Behind the Art
Wednesday, October 28 at 7 PM ET, about 75 minutes
How can creating art support connection and recovery?
Join us for the closing night of The Space Between the Storms: Borderline Personality Disorder Beyond the Moments You See and hear from a few of the artists behind the exhibit. In this moderated panel led by our curator, Ellen Mattesi, the artists will talk with each other about their creative process, the experiences that shaped their work, and what it means to create art connected to BPD, through their own journey or through someone they love.
Expect a lighter, hopeful evening focused on creativity and recovery. The artists will share how they make creativity part of their lives, what creating gives them, and how art can help them feel connected and supported. Whether you’ve been creating for years or haven’t picked up a crayon since grade school, you’ll come away with ideas and inspiration to bring more creativity into your own life.
We’ll end the evening with a live audience Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from the artists.
About the Format:
Each night offers a different way to experience the exhibit.
Opening night is a fast-paced artist showcase. Guided by our curator, we’ll move through the exhibit one piece at a time, giving participating artists a minute or two to share the meaning and inspiration behind their work.
Night two slows things down for a deeper conversation with a smaller group of artists about creativity, connection and recovery, followed by a live audience Q&A.
Both nights close with an invitation to keep exploring the virtual gallery.
Meet the Curator - Ellen Mattesi:
Ellen Mattesi
Ellen Mattesi is an artist and entrepreneur who has been immersed in the professional art world for over 30 years. Across her own fine art and creative career, she has built and managed design companies and art institutions, curated exhibitions, mentored artists in technical expertise and business skills, and fostered creativity for ethnically and mentally diverse communities.
Ellen has spent many years in the BPD community, both as an art teacher and as a parent of a child with BPD. Presently she is creating a new collection of fine art while championing women artists through her network, Black House Market.
This is the 5th BPD Art Show Ellen has led for Emotions Matter. We are grateful for the time and talent she volunteers to support our artists and community.
Registration & Event Informtion
Registration Fees:
- BPD Lived Experience: $40
- General Admission: $50
Wondering What Your Registration Fees Go Toward?:
Your registration does more than secure your spot at the 2026 BPD Art Festival - it helps keep our peer support groups free and accessible to anyone who needs them, and supports the resources Emotions Matter provides to the BPD community throughout the year. Every ticket helps sustain the programs, training, and outreach that make our work possible. Thank you for being part of it!
Those who register will be emailed the Zoom meeting link with instructions on the registration receipt and will receive a reminder email prior to the event.
Disclaimer:
This event does not take the place of medical advice or treatment. There will be resources available for those seeking more information about BPD and support. Registrants will be asked to complete a post-event survey to provide feedback about the event experience and help Emotions Matter learn more about the needs of the BPD community.
Registration Policy:
Registration fees are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend the live event, a recording will be emailed to all registered participants following the event.
Emotions Matter Community Group Guidelines:
1. Your safety and well-being, as well as the safety of the event, is important to us.
2. Use respectful language. Words and body language matter. Be mindful of how others can interpret your communication.
3. We accept differences and promote acceptance, especially with regard to gender, sexual orientation, identity, race, ethnicity, age, religion, or politics.
4. Respect confidentiality. No photographs of other event participants.
5. Avoid making assumptions about other people’s experience of BPD. No judgment.
6. Show kindness and compassion for others who are struggling.
7. All are welcome to share via the chat and Q/A features, but participation is optional. No one person should monopolize the event time.
8. Avoid interrupting, which can make other event participants feel invalidated.
9. Avoid explicit expressions of self-harm or trauma, which may be upsetting to others.
10. If at any point you express concerns about your safety, we will offer support. If your emotions escalate and we are not able to comfort you, we will encourage you to reach out to your support system or consult a mental health professional.
Questions? Email info@emotionsmatterbpd.org.