Miniature paintings, big impact: Quebecer undergoing dialysis debuts solo art show
Posted February 19, 2026 4:02 pm.
Last Updated February 20, 2026 12:06 pm.
Miniature oil paintings are special to Nikola Ragus from Longueuil on Montreal’s South Shore as he creates them while undergoing dialysis for hours at a time — becoming what he describes his window to the outside world.
“I think positivity is really the medicine,” explained the artist. “It’s a hump to get over, but you can do it.”
“Everyone can do it,” he added.
“I realized, oh, I can bring oils and put them in a little mint tin and do everything in a little pocket,” explained Ragus. “I have it all portable for me to do this type of fine art, but in a very unconventional setting.”
By looking at the works displayed at his home, one wouldn’t guess that the 40-year-old had never really painted before starting dialysis two years ago.
He’s been an artist in other ways through music, but unable to play instruments while tethered to a machine, the two-by-three inch canvases allowed him to bring a studio into the clinic.
“It’s been a blessing in a lot of ways,” he said. “I try not to look at the bad sides of it because it really doesn’t outnumber the good stuff at all.”
According to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, dialysis is a treatment that cleans one’s blood and removes excess fluid from the body when the kidneys are no longer healthy enough to do these important jobs.
Ragus was born with a genetic disorder called cystinuria — which creates kidney stones.
In 2023, his right kidney failed completely.
Now, he awaits a transplant – his blood type O-positive.
Despite the small scale of his work, it has had a big impact, like recently debuting at Gallery 1624 in Springfield, Illinois called “The Pocket Horizon.”
“I’ve never been there before,” said Ragus. “I haven’t gone to my own gallery showing, but it’s because of the dialysis.”
“Nonetheless, we’ve made it work.”
Featuring 20 of his favourite paintings – Ragus loves depicting different places he’s been to, places that inspire him.
And he hopes to inspire others to discover a new passion that makes them feel boundless.
“Give it a shot because it adds to your life,” he said. “It doesn’t make it worse, it makes it so much better.”
