Today we’d like to introduce you to Remy Brisueno.
Hi Remy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Taylor Brisueno, but I go by Remy or Remy the Artist. I am 19 and currently attend Anne Arundel Community College pursuing an Associate of Arts for Studio Arts; with plans on pursuing higher education to become an art therapist.
I have always loved drawing and painting as a pastime, however, I have struggled with mental illness since the age of 14 and with that, art became more of an outlet and therapeutic expression. During several hospital stays, art was a vital coping mechanism that allowed me to express the feelings and experiences I could not verbalize. Initially, I started drawing to pass the time, but then it morphed into a way for me to identify my feelings, focus my thoughts, communicate those thoughts and connect better with others. I continued to create art outside of my hospitalizations and found it gave me purpose and it helped me to feel empowered, appreciated and be seen and heard. Art helped me to discover meaning in life and slowly increased my confidence. It gave me a reason to get out of bed, something to look forward to, something that helped me find comfort and helped me see a future for myself. Through my experiences, my mother and I became better informed about the struggles, barriers and resources related to care and treatment for mental illness.
In 2025, my mother and I founded Mental Elevation, an organization that brings awareness to mental illness and helps break down barriers like stigma. We provide education and training and we also use expressive art such as paintings, wearable art, and poetry as a tool for emotional healing and self-expression. My mother, Joy Binion, facilitates workshops and gives speeches related to mental health while I operate the art side of the business. My mother addresses topics that are often overlooked—such as being a trauma-informed caregiver, supporting someone in a mental health crisis, processing grief, building coping skills, conflict management, working with parents and children and breaking thinking traps. I create and sell my artwork in a variety of forms, with many pieces accompanied by optional narratives or poems that offer insight into my creative process. These writings are available for anyone interested in exploring the deeper story behind the work.
We have also attended events speaking and advocating for mental health. We were featured on a podcast, “You, Me and My Mental Illness” which explores how mental illness can change the dynamics of a relationship
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing related to mental illness is a smooth road, even the art making process. I’ve struggled with mental illness for the last 5 years but through that struggle I was able to find my love for art and my passion for mental health advocacy. I started experiencing severe depression and anxiety in the 9th grade. Throughout the next four years I was hospitalized more than 11 times for suicidal ideation and self harm. I have been put on more medications than I can count and went to so many mental health programs. I began to think that this is all life would be for me. I felt hopeless, every year felt worse than the last and my life felt like an endless cycle that would never end. Due to the hospital stays I had to switch to home schooling but eventually had to leave high school all together. Although I was struggling, I found comfort through all the people I met. I heard so many stories and met so many people including other patients, nurses, doctors, behavioral health technicians and therapists.
During late 2024, my parents encouraged me to take some classes at the community college as an alternative for high school. I found community college much more rewarding than high school. While I initially started as an EMT major, I switched to art. My plan is now to finish my art degree here and then transfer to a four year college to pursue art therapy.
While I’m better and doing well in recovery, it’s still an ongoing journey that consists of good and bad days. During hard depression times, finding the motivation to even paint can be a struggle. I’m grateful that those times are fewer and fewer.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mostly use acrylic paint and acrylic markers. I wouldn’t say I “specialize” in anything as I am still an art student. My work is known for the surreal imagery, bold colors, distorted forms, and themes. Because my lived experience with mental illness is a central influence for my art, you are able to take a peak into my inner world and the emotional landscape of living with mental illness through the art. Much of the meaning within my work is found in the details, inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and discover layers of symbolism and personal reflection.
I am especially proud of a few pieces I have created, particularly a painting titled Roadkill and a poster I designed for the hospital staff while I was a patient there, which is still displayed on the walls today. During my time in the hospital, the staff also invited me to work with other patients, encouraging and assisting them with drawing projects. That experience reinforced my belief in art’s ability to support healing.
I’m also proud that sharing my work allows for a level of vulnerability that feels authentic while simultaneously creating opportunities for conversations about mental health. Within the last year I’ve been displaying and selling my art, I’ve appreciated hearing the stories of others who see part of their own experiences reflected in my work. This creates a boomerang effect, fostering a safe space not only for others but for myself as well.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are too many people for me to list who played a role in getting me to where I am today—from my family to mental health professionals, teachers, friends, other patients, the mental health community, and every person I connected with through art. My mother and business partner deserves enormous credit for the success of both me and our business.
She advocated for my treatment and always made sure I had a say. She and my family have always supported me and stood by me during the worst moments of my life. My family always visited me while I spent weeks in the hospital. Every day I had a visitor, and that made a big difference in my recovery. My entire family and friends have supported the business and have always been understanding of what I was going through.
I also want to thank all numerous mental health professionals who support their patients during the worst times of there life and worked hard to make life in the hospital feel even a little better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mentalelevation.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remysartwork/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/remysartwork/ and Mental Elevation Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mentalelevationjb?igsh=MXI5cnQ2Zzd0cjN0Zw==
- Other: Podcast: You, Me and My Mental Illness: https://namimd.org/you-me-and-my-mental-illness/
