Sasha Bogosian is the young artist who founded The Sasha Project LA with her mom. The Sasha Project LA is a non-profit charitable organization that is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for The Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which helps patients heal through art.
Born on May 21, 2008, Sasha has been living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) since her birth. Sasha is also a participant in the art therapy programs at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) which helps her improve the physical challenges of her CP.
She started painting denim clothes as art therapy and as a fun craft to do outside in her backyard during springtime. As the activity became habitual and enjoyable for Sasha, she came up with the idea to give back to her community by offering painted denim in exchange for a donation. Sasha will personally hand-paint your jeans or denim item for your donation.
Sasha and her mom created The Sasha Project LA nonprofit organization that sells Sasha’s art pieces and collects donations on behalf of CHLA. One hundred percent of the proceeds from The Sasha Project LA goes to CHLA’s art therapy programs.
Sasha suffered a perinatal stroke during childbirth which caused her Cerebral Palsy that affects her right hand and leg. She also suffers from a seizure disorder. Apart from participating in art programs that helped her heal, Sasha participates in strength-building activities like hippotherapy (therapeutic horseback riding), rock climbing, and attends physical and occupational therapy every week.
The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has been Sasha’s second home and they have always been there to take care of her. This is where Sasha goes for emergency admittance for seizures, check-ups, physical therapy and other types of medical services she needs.
Sasha is a very resilient and positive person when it comes to her medical challenges. She once underwent an innovative and corrective leg surgery at the CHLA that left her in a full leg cast for eight weeks and she had to use her wheelchair to get around. Despite the challenges of the recovery process, she exceeded her doctor’s expectations, made a quick recovery and was back to walking.
The Sasha Project LA has generated lots of awareness positive conversations about children living with Cerebral Palsy and the healing effects of art on children. The Sasha Project LA has become well known, getting support from big-name celebrities such as Kristen Bell, Jessica Biel, Paris Hilton, Rachel Zoe, Chris Pine, Laila Ali and others.
Sasha has also done many media appearances including appearing on many popular television shows. She and her mom Isabell star together in the Children’s Miracle Network series “Real Moms,” a web series that features 10 moms across the USA who bond through raising children with life-altering medical conditions.
On every piece of denim Sasha paints, there are three hearts that represent healing through art. A statement on the website for The Sasha Project LA reads “It is our mission to bring art therapy programs to children in communities across the globe, one painted piece of denim at a time”.
