Could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Brooke Foster, though I'm better known by my artist tag, Brofoz. I am a mixed-media artist based in London. I love being creative and use art as a way of storytelling and emotional processing. I am originally from Boise, Idaho, and moved to the UK in 2023 to pursue art.
What was your motivation for creating your art and wanting to so generously donate part of your proceeds to Endometriosis UK?
I got my period on my 15th birthday. Since then, I've been facing extremely painful periods alongside an array of other issues. I assumed most of it was normal. I was a collegiate athlete in the States for five years and played volleyball for most of my life, so the mindset was very much to "get on with it."
It wasn't until this January that I experienced an exceptionally severe wave of cramping pain. It was completely debilitating. My usual frustration with these flare-ups was ignited by an anger I hadn't experienced before.
I often use art as a way to process personal and uncomfortable feelings, so soon after this most recent episode, I wasn't surprised to find myself sketching the pain. What started as sketches evolved into larger-scale artworks, and before I knew it, I was in my studio every day working on this collection.
Alongside my visual investigation, I became more vocal, speaking with friends about my symptoms. One of my friends encouraged me to look into endometriosis. I had never heard of it. One in ten women in the UK have this condition, so how had I never come across it? I'd been seeking help from doctors for my symptoms on and off since 2016. Why was this only now being suggested to me?
I want to be very clear, I don't know if I have endometriosis. Diagnosis can be difficult to achieve, and I'm currently on that journey. Regardless, discovering the massively underrepresented community of those living with endometriosis and similar health conditions only intensified my desire to create this work.
Art is powerful! It has the ability to educate, motivate, and enact change. I want to be part of a movement that improves women's health.
What inspires you to create your art?
Almost all of my work is sparked by an attempt to process my own emotions. I use my artistic practice as a visual journal for this kind of internal investigation. I often question why I feel the way I do. I want to understand the root cause, and if the emotion I'm experiencing is negative, the goal is to feel better.
Art makes me feel better.
Naturally, what's happening around me has an emotional impact. Moving to the UK, adapting to a new culture, going through a breakup, falling in love... these experiences all shape how I feel. Things happen, and I feel them deeply. I can't help but seize the opportunity to visualise them.
Your exhibition ‘VIVARIUM’ is coming up soon! How did the idea for the show come about?
After lots of sketching and reflection, I realised I was building something that needed to be shared. Not only because, as an artist, I want to exhibit my work, but because I believe women's health should be talked about more openly.
I felt an art show would be a powerful way to raise awareness and educate a wide range of audiences on the subject. As I continued developing the collection, my own research into endometriosis intensified. I quickly reached out to Endometriosis UK to see if they would be interested in my having the exhibition as a fundraising event as well.
Again, it feels strange to speak so passionately about a condition that I may not even have. But I want to support this community regardless, and art seems like a meaningful way to do that.
What is your advice for anyone wanting to organise their own event?
The best way to organise any event is simply to ask.
I think the fear of being told "no" holds many people back, especially artists. Art is so personal, so rejection can feel particularly painful in this industry.
If you're an individual, or part of a group, looking for a space to host an event, the best thing you can do is ask. Ask who you should speak to. Ask whether your values align. Ask whether the person in charge would be interested in meeting for a coffee.
Community is at the heart of organising events, gallery exhibitions, and creative projects. More often than not, people are willing to help with the logistics, allowing you to focus on your own important role rather than trying to manage everything at once.
What message or theme do you hope visitors take away from the exhibition?
I hope the exhibition shines a light on the normalisation of period pain and inspires women to seek help if they are experiencing abnormal levels of discomfort.
I also hope the work speaks to people of all genders by providing greater insight into the physical, emotional, and societal challenges that people assigned female at birth still face today. And I say "still" because this remains an ongoing issue, one that continues to be under-researched and under-prioritised.
In an ideal world, the exhibition provides education while also inspiring women to advocate for themselves.
How do you hope the funds raised will help people affected by endometriosis?
I hope the money raised provides Endometriosis UK with additional support to continue offering resources, guidance, and a sense of safety for people living with, or seeking information about, endometriosis.
I want visitors who purchase a print to know that they're also contributing to this effort. Equally important, to me at least, is the awareness the exhibition can bring to the general public about endometriosis and the wider state of women's health in 2026.
Both matter!
I trust that Endometriosis UK knows how best to use the funds raised, and I'm looking forward to seeing the impact they have.
