Perth Artist Turns Parkinson's Struggle Into Solo Exhibition

A Perth artist diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's at 36 is turning his toughest battle into a beacon of hope for others facing the same fight.

Andrew Grero's first solo exhibition, Signal Lost, opened at Inglewood Arts Hub this week. The show captures his journey from "regular dude" to someone who sometimes has to crawl across the floor when his medication wears off.

The most striking piece, titled Monster, shows how Parkinson's affects his relationship with his two-year-old son. When symptoms flare, Grero might be hunched over or lying on the floor, and his toddler doesn't yet understand why. "You just look in his eyes," Grero explained, noting his son sometimes looks scared.

But Grero doesn't let that heartbreak define the story. Another painting shows him punching the "Parkinson's monster" with friends and family backing him up.

Four years ago, it started with a dull shoulder ache. Then he struggled to brush his teeth. Then his right leg began to drag. Now he's one of more than 1,100 Australians under 65 diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's each year.

His art tackles the hidden struggles most people never see. A digital watch, a cheeseburger, and a can of lager appear throughout the exhibition because Parkinson's touches every corner of daily life. A big meal blocks medication absorption. A few drinks amplify symptoms. "There's so much more to it" than the tremors people recognize, he said.

Why This Inspires

Grero's courage is already creating ripples. One newly diagnosed artist reached out before even going public with her diagnosis, calling him brave. His response? "Dude, you're brave."

As symptoms progress, he's shifting from large murals to studio work and landscapes. But he's not slowing down. He wants the exhibition to travel and include other artists with Parkinson's.

"Life's fragile and you never know what's going to happen so I'm just going hard at it," Grero said. His son will grow up understanding dad isn't a monster at all.