Meet Sasha Bogosian, 18, who raised nearly $100,000 for art therapy

An 18-year-old student from Los Angeles who began painting denim while recovering from major bone surgery at the age of eight has raised nearly $100,000 for art programmes at children's hospitals. Sasha Bogosian was born with cerebral palsy right hemiplegia, a neurological condition that affects movement and strength on the right side of her body. She developed the condition after suffering a stroke during childbirth.

In 2016, after undergoing major surgery on her leg and hips, Bogosian began painting denim jeans and jackets as part of her recovery at home. The activity helped her rebuild motor skills in her hands. What began as a quiet creative hobby soon grew into The Sasha Project LA, a registered non-profit organisation that raises money for creative therapy programmes for children who spend long periods in hospital.Turning medical recovery into creative actionDuring her early recovery at home, Bogosian looked for ways to keep her hands active despite her physical limitations.

Using acrylic paint, she began creating colourful splatter-art designs on denim clothes given to her by friends and family. According to background information published on The Sasha Project LA website, Bogosian became a Junior Ambassador for Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in 2016, when she was eight years old. She found that creative therapy helped her cope with physical pain and anxiety.

That same year, she started her non-profit organisation to raise money directly for art programmes in hospitals. "Sasha is soft-spoken, but her painted jeans speak volumes," reads the organisation's official description. "What started as a fun craft and form of art therapy soon became something much bigger, a way to give back." The money raised by her non-profit supports The Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The programme brings visual artists, musicians, and performers to patients' bedsides. These activities help children express feelings of grief, frustration, or fear while receiving treatment.Clinical benefits and insurance gapsCreative therapies have recognised benefits in children's healthcare, but hospitals continue to face challenges in paying for these services. Information published by CHLA and shared on The Sasha Project LA platform explains that expressive art therapies can provide measurable health benefits.

These include lower blood pressure, better breathing control, pain relief, and improved motor skills as children grow and develop. However, expressive arts programmes are considered an additional form of care, so standard health insurance policies in the United States do not cover their running costs. As a result, hospital art therapy departments depend entirely on charitable donations and independent fundraising to continue their work.

Along with individual art sessions at patients' bedsides, donations raised through Bogosian's project help fund the Handy Heroes Therapy Camp. This specialised summer day camp is designed for children with hemiparesis, a condition that causes weakness on one side of the body. It offers tailored physical therapy and group activities to help strengthen affected limbs.Runway showcases and corporate partnershipsAs Bogosian's hand-painted denim designs attracted more public attention, major clothing and footwear brands began supporting her fundraising work.

Retailers such as Levi's and BLICK Art Materials started sponsoring her workspace by providing plain denim and professional art supplies. In 2018, Bogosian was chosen as one of ten National Champion Ambassadors representing Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. During her time in the role, she led a fundraising fashion show called "Rock the Runway." Other young patients modelled her custom hand-painted denim designs alongside celebrity supporters.

Bogosian has also expanded her work into accessible fashion. She partnered with Billy Footwear to release collections of adaptive shoes designed for people who wear leg braces or have limited mobility. After undergoing a second major surgery in 2019 to manage her condition, Bogosian continued her physical rehabilitation while studying fashion design.Expansion into adaptive fashionNow 18, Bogosian is studying adaptive clothing design.

She plans to launch a fully inclusive fashion brand designed for people with physical disabilities. Outside her studies and charity work, Bogosian stays active through targeted fitness training and pickleball. She continues her physical therapy routine while organising seasonal fundraising campaigns. So far, money raised through custom clothing sales, corporate partnerships, and direct public donations through The Sasha Project LA website continues to go directly to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

The funds help support full-time art therapists employed by the hospital.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.