After 20 Years in a Mental Hospital, an Artist Fights for Sanity

Artist Issa Ibrahim discusses his memoir "The Hospital Always Wins." Pictured: Issa's painting, "The Wedding."

Artist, writer and musician Issa Ibrahim spent 20 years in Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens after his descent into drugs and psychosis led him to commit a crime. In his memoir The Hospital Always Wins, he writes about his experiences in the mental health system, as well as the long, painful road to rehabilitation and his current work as a peer counselor and artist. Radio producer Laura Starecheski told his story on NPR's State of the Re:Union, which won the Edward R. Murrow Award and Third Coast 2014 Award for Best News documentary. 

Event: Issa Ibrahim will be signing copies of his memoir on Thursday, June 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Issa’s gallery exhibit in the Local Project Art Space (11-27 44th St, Long Island City). His art will be exhibited in the space until June 18th, and signed books will be available there for sale throughout the show.