Wednesday, September 9, 2026

UCB presents epilepsy art initiative at EEC 2026

UCB has introduced Expressing Epilepsy, a global initiative launched around the European Epilepsy Congress 2026 in Athens. The programme starts with an exhibition of original works by Noëmi Manser, Anastasia Egonyan and Stephanie Gowdy, three artists who live with epilepsy.

The initiative combines art, personal narratives and lived experience to broaden understanding of epilepsy. UCB says the project is intended to support more open conversations about the condition and highlight dimensions of daily life that are often not visible to others.

Art as a route into lived experience

The exhibition includes painting, textiles, photography and mixed media. The works reflect individual perspectives on emotions, identity, resilience and the wider effects epilepsy can have on families and social life.

According to UCB, the exhibition aims to address stigma and make the physical, psychological and social impact of epilepsy easier to recognize. Citing the World Health Organization, the company notes that epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide.

Physical exhibition and virtual access

The in-person exhibition was held in the Alexandra Trianti Foyer during the European Epilepsy Congress in Athens. UCB also points to an interactive virtual exhibition, designed to make the artworks and the stories behind them accessible to audiences beyond the congress venue.

For UCB, the initiative sits within its patient engagement and advocacy work. The Brussels-based biopharmaceutical company focuses on severe diseases of the central nervous system and the immune system. In 2024, UCB reported revenue of 6.15 billion euros and employed about 9,000 people in approximately 40 countries.