I am living proof that addiction and mental health recovery works. I have lived through some of the hardest seasons of my life and come out the other side. Today, I’m deeply grateful to be alive and committed to living well.

When I was about three years old, I had my first meditation. I remember being at a table—like a business table—and God was sitting across from me. He gave me art supplies and told me I had to leave him. I remember begging, ‘no, no, no.’ And he told me to take them and help people.

I didn’t leave that moment with a good feeling. My life went in a different direction. I had my first drink that same year, was given codeine, and had a strong reaction. Things started really young, and addiction took hold quickly.

I started chasing sobriety at 17, and it stayed with me for years. I finally found recovery at 39—and this time, it stayed. I’m not living in that place anymore. My mental health has improved, and I’ve found a kind of peace and happiness I didn’t think was possible.

Looking back, I’ve always felt guided by something bigger than me. Art Gossip feels like something that was planted in me a long time ago—and now I’m finally living it out. 
 

Art Gossip was created to offer a safe, creative space for others who are walking their own recovery journey. 


It was founded by a creative with an Associate degree in Graphic Design from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, along with certifications as a Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS), Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS), Community Health Worker, and Group Facilitator.




Grounded in both lived experience and professional training, Art Gossip combines visual expression with real-world understanding to support healing, connection, and growth.

Love always,

Jay Lee Byrd