Eliette Markhbein was born and raised in Paris, France. She has a Masters degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York, NY and worked for 20 years as an editor for European and American architecture magazines. Pain is a charcoal and colored-pencil drawing that she made while bedridden with debilitating pain after a traumatic brain and spine injury, the result of being hit by a speeding car. The drawing depicts a female figure gracefully folded in on itself but also broken open.

After the accident, Eliette began exploring innovative ways to use creativity in rehabilitation. She is passionate about the power of creativity in helping people recover from trauma, and currently works with spinal cord and traumatic brain injury patients at the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center, also in New York City. The accompanying photo of the artist was taken on the slopes of Chamonix, France. "One can work out of pain and despair and find joy again," says Eliette. "Of course, braces are part of it, but hey ... ."