June 18, 2026
Though Parkinson’s disease commonly affects movement, speech, handwriting, energy, and the daily routines that creative work often depends on, artists are experts at adapting to challenges and overcoming them. Across literature, painting, design, music, and illustration, many talented creators have continued to thrive after diagnosis.
These artists’ stories are not intended to minimize the reality of Parkinson’s. They are about recognizing the many ways creativity perseveres, and the surprising ways in which PD has shaped art and culture.
Daniel Barenboim: The Conductor Still Dedicated to Music
Daniel Barenboim, one of the most influential classical musicians of the current era, announced in 2025 that he has Parkinson’s disease. His career as a pianist, conductor, and cultural bridge-builder spans more than seven decades, and throughout that time he has led major institutions, including the Berlin State Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and La Scala, while also co-founding the Barenboim–Said Academy with the scholar Edward Said. After announcing his diagnosis, he pledged to maintain as many professional commitments as his health permits, and to continue conducting the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra as long as he is able.
Sonia Rykiel: The Fashion Designer Who Revolutionized Comfort
French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel was known as the “Queen of Knits” for good reason. Her striped sweaters, relaxed silhouettes, and playful sensibility helped reshape modern womenswear. She was also an accomplished writer and interior designer. She lived with Parkinson’s for two decades and eventually spoke publicly about the disease after keeping it private for many years, referring to PD as putain de Parkinson’s.
That Rykiel’s work was rooted in ease, movement, and self-expression makes her legacy especially resonant in the context of Parkinson’s. She designed clothes that rejected stiffness and constraint, and invited women to inhabit their bodies comfortably. Her story is also a reminder that disclosure is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Some people speak openly about Parkinson’s right away. Others need time. Both paths deserve respect.
Ba Jin: The Literary Giant Who Witnessed a Century
Ba Jin, a major figure in modern Chinese literature, lived to be 100 years old after a life shaped by writing, translation, political activism, and public reflection. He is best known for works such as The Family, which helped define 20th century Chinese fiction, and was so influential during the Cultural Revolution that the Shantou Cultural Revolution Museum displays a depiction of him at its entrance.
Ba Jin developed Parkinson’s disease in the early 1980s. In later life, the illness limited his mobility and speech, but his literary legacy remains immense.
Fiona Davis: The Novelist Turning History Into Living Stories
Fiona Davis, a New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020. Her novels often center on iconic New York City buildings, transforming places such as the New York Public Library and Radio City Music Hall into backdrops for exciting stories.
Davis has spoken publicly about her diagnosis and about continuing to write while managing symptoms. Her openness is genuinely inspiring. For writers, Parkinson’s may affect typing, energy, concentration, and the necessary routines that support completing a lengthy project. It takes a significant amount of determination and grit to stay productive amidst those challenges.
Peter Dunlap-Shohl: The Cartoonist Who Drew Parkinson’s From the Inside
Cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl continued drawing after finding out he had Parkinson’s at age 43 and decided to depict the experience of living with the condition in his work. His memoir My Degeneration employs humor, candor, and visual storytelling to demystify Parkinson’s and invite others into a deeper understanding of it.
Cartooning is a particularly compelling medium for this subject. A line can shake, bend, exaggerate, and reveal what words alone may miss. Dunlap-Shohl has a few words of encouragement for those who are living with Parkinson’s and contemplating the pursuit of artistic endeavors:
Go for it. People on Levodopa therapy, the most effective treatment for PD, often develop creative urges they would not have otherwise: writing books, doing paintings, quilting, etc. Why would you not take advantage of this new possibility for self-expression? You may not have the manual dexterity of Michaelangelo, or the raw talent of Raphael, but let’s face it, hardly anyone does.
Ready to learn more about art and Parkinson’s and dive into some joyful creativity? Join our upcoming webinar with artist, educator, and author Barbara Salsberg Mathews for an inspiring conversation about how creative expression can transform life with Parkinson’s.
