In the very first episode of Wrecked by Art, Cindy shares the moment that changed everything—New Year’s Day 2004, when she came face to face with Picasso’s Girl Before a Mirror. What began as a museum visit turned into a full-body, soul-level recognition. This painting didn’t just speak to her—it saw her. It mirrored the pain she was hiding, and helped her feel, for the first time, truly seen.

This raw and unedited episode explores the transformative power of art, the weight of hiding your true self, and the moment Cindy scrapped her PhD applications and chose a different path—one rooted in helping others feel the magic of art too.

Links & Mentions:

View the artwork: Girl Before a Mirror – MoMA

Cindy's book: Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir

Bonus episode: Chapter One reading on Patreon

Email your story: [email protected]

Follow Cindy on TikTok and Threads

Support the Show:Become a Patron and get bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes stories: patreon.com/wreckedbyart

Get full access to Wrecked by Art with Cindy Ingram at cindyingram.substack.com/subscribe