How Parkinson's Shapes Andrew Grero’s Art, Daily Life and Bond with His Son

Signal Lost is Grero’s first solo exhibition. The central piece, titled "Monster," uses the monster motif to visualise how Parkinson’s disease has altered his relationship with his two‑year‑old son. Grero says the painting shows the fear and confusion his child feels when his dad is in an "off" period.

Diagnosed at 36, the 40‑year‑old artist lives with young‑onset Parkinson’s disease. He explains that during off periods he may be hunched over, have to crawl, or even lie on the floor, and simple tasks such as brushing his teeth or taking medication become major challenges.

Grero’s canvases burst with bright colours and everyday items – a digital watch, a cheeseburger, a can of lager – to illustrate that Parkinson’s touches every part of his routine. "If you have a big meal and then you try and take your medication, you just can't get through," he told ABC News.

More than 1,100 Australians under 65 are diagnosed with young‑onset Parkinson’s each year, representing about 20 % of all Parkinson’s cases in the country, according to ABC News. By sharing his personal struggle through art, Grero hopes to raise awareness of the disease’s hidden impacts beyond the well‑known tremors.

Grero’s work shows that Parkinson’s is not only a medical condition but a daily reality that reshapes creativity, family life and simple habits. His vivid paintings invite the public to see the disease’s full reach and to support those living with it.

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