Special Recognition Art Award-Winners
As the Director of Manhattan Arts International I am honored to introduce you to six exceptional artists I selected to receive Special Recognition Art Awards. I chose them from “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online exhibition presented on our other website The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS.
The artists are Karen Johnston, Frantisek Strouhal, Rebecca Knaggs, Rajul Shah, Kate Cruickshank, and Carol Claude T.
In addition to creating extraordinary works of art these artists practice the art of compassion and generosity. Their acts of kindness improve the lives of others and make the world a better place for us all. They inspire us to follow their altruistic endeavors.
I encourage you to visit the artists’ websites to learn more about them. Purchase their art from them and help them support important causes.
All Rights Reserved. Do Not Reproduce Images Without The Artist’s Permission.
Karen Johnston
Founder of The H.O.P.E. Ministry
Love Letter, acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 24″ from “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online Exhibition
Karen Johnston is an extraordinary abstract painter and instructor living in Nashville, Tennessee. Her gorgeous, ethereal paintings lift the spirit and stimulate growth. The powerful healing nature of her artwork is invaluable.
Karen’s belief that art heals inspires her passion toward community work and projects that integrate the arts with healthcare and well-being. Karen is also the founder and a leader of The H.O.P.E. Ministry, a community that supports and shares the healing journey through any stage of cancer or life-changing illness, including caregivers, family members and friends. This is Karen’s 15th year of leading this support circle. Many people of all ages have benefited from her compassion, love and generosity.
Karen has planned a special event this year and exudes, “I’ve invited a well-respected retired oncologist who now practices holistic oncology to come and speak to our group. It’s also just wonderful to come together as a healing community and support each other through all the ups and downs.”
Karen is also a volunteer at Loaves and Fishes, a community-wide initiate to feed the hungry. She shares, “I’ve been doing that the last few years, hence my interest in connecting with food pantry/resources like I’m doing in my upcoming solo show ‘Extending Hope'”. Karen’s painting “Love Letter”, shown above, will be in that show at the John Waldron Arts Center, in Bloomington, IN. She states, “I am donating a portion of the proceeds to the food pantry, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard in Bloomington”.
Visit Karen’s website studiokarenjohnston.com
Frantisek Strouhal
Co-Founder of Global Symphony for a United World
Encounter with the Unknown, mixed media: oil printing /lithography inks, 20″ x 24″, from “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online Exhibition
Frantisek Strouhal is an esteemed visual artist and poet based in the serene West Kootenay region, in British Columbia. He is renowned for his transcendent, innovative mixed-media artworks. His signature style, imbued with deep introspection, nostalgia, and existential nuance, captivates audiences worldwide. His portfolio is titled “Art Embracing Awareness” about which he states, “My imagery is meant to serve as an oasis of tranquility, permanence and strength and to capture and highlight what is fundamental to our being and society”.
Frantisek founded Global Symphony for a United World, (G.S.U.W.) with his wife Chantal Robert. In this capacity Frantisek donates his time and work to community-based initiatives. He is currently organizing free community concerts and interdisciplinary art events that bring music and visual art into public, accessible spaces — particularly for those with limited access to live art experiences. Through G.S.U.W. he is expanding these efforts by bringing art therapists into schools and senior homes, and by supporting charitable fundraisers through art donations.
Frantisek and Chantal are in the process of completing their third book, focused on contemplation, transformation, and liberation to support individuals navigating life’s challenges.
Visit Frantisek’s website frantisekstrouhal.com
Visit the G.S.U.W. website gsuw.org
Rebecca Knaggs
Co-founder of Permesso Collective
Becoming, acrylic on canvas, 35.43″ x 35.43″, from “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online Exhibition
Rebecca is an Australian artist who creates uplifting restorative paintings imbued with organic symbolism. She is also a creative therapist and the co-founder of Permesso collective with her friend, Gisela Boetker. They describe themselves as, “artists and creative catalysts and qualified facilitators with 25 years experience in education, creativity and art between them.”
Permesso inspires creative curiosity through intuition and process-based painting in public spaces. Their purpose is, “Through a process of meditation and intuitive painting, participants are invited to paint on a large mural canvas, re/connecting with the part of themselves that responds spontaneously and imaginatively. The experience can be a confronting, insightful, invigorating and ensouling creative process.” Rebecca and Gisela paint alongside participants, “creating in community”.
Rebecca also offers WholeheART workshops and classes in her wholeheART studio in Kyneton, Australia. She states, “WholeheART is committed to providing a safe, inclusive creative space for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, ability, sexuality, or gender identity.”
Visit Rebecca’s website wholeheart.com.au
Rajul Shah
Co-Founder of Purple Octupus Art, LLC
Essence, mixed media on linen, 47″ x 59″ from”The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online Exhibition.
Rajul Shah was born in Mumbai, India and is currently based in the United States and Singapore. She creates healing art that immediately arouses a transcendent experience for the viewer. She states, “Drawing inspiration from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, my paintings represent the restoration of emotional balance and renewal of chakras, emphasizing the beauty in imperfection.”
Rajul is also the Co-Founder of Purple Octopus Art, LLC, based on the principle of Art being a healer. Rajul’s prior career involved a dedication to patients and healers across various therapeutic areas.
Its mission: “To provide a platform for art and expressive writing that address human and environmental ailments. Art works and writing are published online and in books to offer inspiration to sufferers/families/caregivers. The organization also published a book “The Cancer Feminine, Art, Inspiration and Truth”.
Rajul informs us, “In 2026 my plan is to do an open call for artists who would like to talk about their artwork or their writing in conjunction with an illness and/or care of a loved one with an illness.” Rajul plans to conduct interviews and publish them on her YouTube channel @purpleoctopusart7529
Visit Rajul’s website: rajulshahart.com
Visit the PurpleOctopusArt website purpleoctopusart.com
Kate Cruickshank
Cancer Support Coaching
Burgundy Butterfly, ink and watercolor, 30″ x 40″, from “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online Exhibition
Kate Cruickshank is an artist living in Dallas, Texas. She creates life-affirming paintings of butterflies using alcohol ink and watercolor. Her art serves as a symbol of hope, transformation, and resilience. She explains, “Each wing is intentionally jagged, a reflection of a life shaped by adventure, challenge, and growth.”
Kate is also a Cancer Coach and Registered Nurse and combines her experience, artistic skills and spirit of atruism to help others. She recently released two beautiful, limited edition, fine art prints of her original butterfly artwork. One of them is “Burgundy Butterfly” shown above. All prints are hand signed and numbered, and come with a certificate of authenticy.
Kate explains, “100% of the profits from these prints fund free professional group coaching for people navigating cancer providing group coaching support and emergency. Thanks to collector support, the first fully funded group began in January, 2026 — art with a special healing mission to support, empower and make a difference being able to serve others with no cost to them.”
Visit Kate’s website alchemyinks.com
Visit Kate’s website for her cancer work nursecoachkate.com
Carole Claude T.
Proceeds to Charities and Free E-Books
Action Needed!, mixed media drawing on A4, sketch paper, 8.3” x 11.7”, from “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Online Exhibition
Carole is an artist living in Australia and creates mixed media drawings that are healing narratives. They enlighten us and ignite our sense of childlike wonder and curiosity about the universe, spirituality, human experience, and nature.
Carole generously donates proceeds from sales of her art prints to worthy charities. They are: WIRES (Australian Wildlife Rescue); WORLD VISION (Ukraine Appeal); and CHILD FUND (Worldwide Children Charity.
Carole is also the convenor of a local Art Group, a free service that brings together talented and enthusiastic artists. Carole states, “It is a wonderful mix of seasoned professionals with years of experience and passionate newcomers and I always encourage a spirit of playful experimentation.”
Additionally, Carole is also an author, writing under the name C.C. Saint-Clair. She offers her inspirational e-books for free download from her website. One, titled “Stepping Stones To The Top Of The World (The Great Forgetfulness)”, encourages us to examine nature’s healing attributes, our relationship with it and the impact of our actions.
Visit Carole’s website caroleclaude.art
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[…] A More Detailed Article is Available on Manhattan Arts International This article is a brief introduction into the artists’ contributions. A more detailed article titled “Artists Who Practice the Art of Compassion and Generosity” has been published on our parent website Manhattan Arts International. You can read it here. […]