“The Eternal Canvas Foundation provides personalized portraits as a tribute to loved ones, turning grief into a heartfelt celebration of life.”
The Eternal Canvas Foundation, founded by Mira Costa sophomore Hugh Saetia, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing grieving families with complimentary, hand-painted portraits of their loved ones. The foundation’s mission is to offer a meaningful tribute to those who have passed away, helping to heal emotional wounds through art.
Local Artist Turns Grief Into Healing with The Eternal Canvas Foundation
Los Angeles, CA – Losing his mother to gastrointestinal cancer at a young age left a profound void in Hugh Saetia’s life. This pain was further magnified when a pivotal figure in his life, his babysitter, tragically lost her son, Eddie MacCalister, to gun violence. Inspired by her grief and his own, 14-year-old Hugh knew he had to do something to help, leading him to create The Eternal Canvas Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to offering free hand-painted portraits of lost loved ones.
The foundation was born from a deeply personal experience. Seeking to help his babysitter cope with the loss of her son, Hugh painted Eddie’s portrait as a way to preserve his memory. In that moment, he realized the power of what he had created—it was more than just a portrait; it was a tangible memory and piece of healing, and he knew it couldn’t stop with just one painting, as so many others like her and him were carrying grief with nowhere to place it. Since then, The Eternal Canvas Foundation has expanded its reach, offering these portraits to families coping with loss, no matter their financial background.
In addition to providing emotional comfort, the foundation has also sparked important conversations surrounding grief and remembrance. Through partnerships with mortuaries, relief groups, and over 25 talented artists from his school’s AP Art class, art club, and other passionate individuals eager to repurpose their craft for a meaningful cause.
To fund this initiative, Hugh spends his Sundays with his dad at the Brentwood Farmers Market, sharpening knives every Sunday morning to raise the money needed for materials like canvases and oil paints. His dedication ensured the service remained free to the families, and he even distributed supplies to other artists who shared his vision.
“I love it so much-just holding it makes me feel like I’m hugging him again.”-Marylin MacCalister
For more information on The Eternal Canvas Foundation or to donate, visit www.eternalcanvas.org or contact Hugh Saetia at hugh.saetia@gmail.com.
- Hugh Saetia
- Hugh.saetia@gmail.com
- 424-220-0590
- www.eternalcanvas.org
