BLACK ROSE TRICHROME | Kaitlyn Niznik

“I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis in 2020. The proof of my condition is only present in pathology slides showing an overabundance of lymphocytes. My use of plates as canvases is intentional since all of my issues and fears revolve around food. I use nostalgic vintage plate designs because they remind me of my childhood and my family's shared problems around eating.”

Kaitlyn Niznik is a New York-based artist specializing in depictions of the colon. In 2020, she was diagnosed with microscopic lymphocytic colitis and IBS. By exploring different biopsy staining techniques through her watercolor paintings, Niznik considers how the dyes affect her interpretation of the gastrointestinal system and disease. Niznik, who received her MFA from Lesley University, is in her ninth year of teaching as an arts educator, was awarded a 2025 Fellowship from the Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network for her IBD advocacy. Her artwork has appeared in The Pathologist, Dis/Ease exhibition in NYC, the World Congress on Pain 2026 in Bangkok, House of Smalls gallery in Scotland and DNJ gallery in California. Discover more of her work on IG @ kaitlynniznik_guts