Paintings of Postpartum Trauma and Healing by S. Abbas Shobeiri
Patient Advocacy Through the Arts
Countway Library is thrilled to announce our newest Art@Countway exhibition, in partnership with Global Mental Health @ Harvard!
Please join us for the Opening Reception on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 5:30–7 pm | Register for the opening reception
Exhibition Details
Dates: September 1, 2026–January 15, 2027
Location: First floor of Countway Library
Access: Open to Harvard ID holders Monday-Friday (building hours); Open to the public Saturday-Sunday (access policies)
Do You See Me? invites viewers into the emotional landscape of postpartum trauma and healing. Drawing on decades of caring for women after childbirth, physician-artist Dr. S. Abbas Shobeiri transforms lived experiences into a powerful visual journey that inspires empathy, reflection, and conversation.
Artist’s Statement
Do You See Me? emerged from my decades as a physician-scientist, where I witnessed countless difficulties after childbirths. I noticed a troubling pattern: if the baby did well, all agreed it was a successful delivery; if not, it was deemed a failure. During pregnancy and labor, the mother was reduced to a vessel that carried the child. But these vessels break, and sometimes not even the mothers notice it.
For almost 30 years, I've listened to my patients' emotional distress. For some women, birth is experienced as a traumatic event, with a minority developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In new mothers with PTSD, the underlying pelvic floor muscle injury often goes unnoticed. Their physical symptoms aren't validated by a diagnosis of muscle injury, and their psychological agony continues. The mothers may be told it's all in their heads or that the symptoms will pass. These patients feel alone, their voices unheard.
I decided to advocate for mothers with postpartum pelvic floor trauma and PTSD by painting their emotions. In my work, I first took the typical statements and sentiments that my patients expressed and matched them with seven stages of grief: Shock, Denial, Anger, Depression and Detachment, Dialogue and Bargaining, Acceptance, and Return to a Meaningful Life. For these stories, I often choose large format canvases or boards to draw viewers into the mother's postpartum world.
The mothers universally identify with the subject matter as these stories come from shared everyday experiences. My mothers are often depicted alone, inviting viewers to join them in their silent journey through various healing stages. Chronicling mothers' postpartum depression and PTSD journey is not a responsibility I've taken lightly. Each painting is carefully conceived to fulfill its role in advocating for these overlooked women.
Artist Bio
Professor S. Abbas Shobeiri (Iranian-American, born 1964) is a professional painter who focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth. Dr. Shobeiri is an international authority, researcher, educator, and surgeon concentrating on postpartum mothers' health. He is a medical device innovator, and a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Education, and Biomedical Engineering. 
Dr. Shobeiri was an artist before becoming a healer. He emphasizes the connection between mind and heart, soul and body. His paintings promote emotional literacy and break social taboos surrounding childbirth, depression, and PTSD-C. Harnessing first-hand experience working with mothers for decades, he brings an empathetic lens to the maternal experience. His practice moves between research, operating rooms, and the easel, engaging in dialogues with new mothers, then sharing their stories visually while addressing broader mental health issues.
Do You See Me? is the first-ever exhibition focusing on postpartum PTSD after childbirth, which opened in Washington, D.C. to rave reviews from the Washington Post and ABC News.
You can explore more of Dr. Shobeiri's work at S. Abbas Shobeiri Art, Instagram @shobeiriart, and through YouTube videos.
Events
Opening Reception
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 | 5:30–7 pm | Countway Library | Register for the opening reception
World Mental Health Day
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 5:30–7 pm | Countway Library | Registration link will be available here soon
Closing Reception
Wednesday, January 13, 2027 | 5:30–7 pm | Countway Library | Registration link will be available here soon
Keep an eye on our events calendar for artist tours and other collaborative events throughout the exhibition's timeline!