Title: Open Spirit Rose
Medium: Water Soluble Wax Paint and 24k gold on wood panel
Size: 40 x 30 x 1.5 inches
Completed: April 2023
Client: Cantor-Adkins Functional Medicine | Manhattan, NYC
PROJECT OVERVIEW
When Dr. Adkins reached out again, it felt less like a new commission and more like a continuation of a shared vision. Following the success of Lotus – The Return, which now graces the event space of her Upper East Side clinic, she returned with a new idea—something intimate, soft, and welcoming. This time, the artwork would live in the entry foyer: the very first moment patients step into her healing space.
She imagined a piece that didn’t just fill a wall, but held a presence. Something that gently invites, softens the breath, and signals: you’re safe here.
BEFORE
AFTER
The Welcome Room of Cantor-Adkins Functional Medicine Clinic in Manhattan, NYC before & after installation.
The Intention
Dr. Adkins described it with quiet clarity:
“I want clients to feel held from the moment they walk in the door. This space should help them let go when they arrive, and gently gather themselves before they leave.”
The concept echoed the spirit of Peace Rose, a luminous painting previously created for a meditation center. That softness, that invitation to open—those would become the emotional architecture of the new piece.
The Creative Process
Our conversations spanned time zones and moods. Through a series of remote sessions, we unpacked the energy this space carried—and the energy it needed. She sent over photographs of the foyer, and we began playing with scale, light, and spatial presence. At 40 x 30 x 2 inches, the painting had to feel grounded without overwhelming—anchoring the space while remaining porous, breathable.
Digital mockups brought the vision to life in situ, allowing us to refine the composition with care. With themes of receptivity, luminosity, and quiet power guiding the brush, Open Spirit Rose was brought into form.
An initial digital sketch and determining the size for the painting.
The Arrival
Completed in April 2023, the piece was professionally photographed, packed with care, and shipped to its new home in Manhattan. Upon installation, Dr. Adkins shared:
“It looks beautiful! The paintings are great and the space in the office feels amazing.”
Now nestled in the entryway, Open Spirit Rose doesn’t just decorate—it welcomes. It’s the first whisper patients receive: this place is here for you.
OPEN SPIRIT ROSE PROJECT GALLERY
© Yohanna Jessup