Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Celina Leroy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Celina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My name is Celina Leroy. I am a portrait artist that specializes in birthmarks and facial differences. I’ve created over 90 personalized portraits that celebrate Port Wine
Stain birthmarks and other facial differences too, including people with craniofacial disorders, cleft palate, facial paralysis etc. I’ve had a full art show at Positive Exposure gallery in Manhattan in January 2023. I am excited to say I’m going to have another one this October 6th at the same gallery!
My aim with each portrait is to highlight the beauty in these unique differences, rather than hide or diminish them.
In addition to painting, I ask my subjects about their experiences and try to reflect on their stories in my work. I have been sharing these interviews on social media and also played them alongside the paintings in the gallery show. Hearing these stories has opened up more conversations about bullying, unrealistic beauty standards and misinformation.
Feeling different can be incredibly isolating, especially when few people understand skin conditions. My subjects often share similar experiences. Mark, for example, mentioned when we all wore masks in 2020, it hid his birthmark from view, and it made him feel relieved. He wasn’t being stared at, pointed at, made to feel different. But as the masks came off, those same feelings came back. I felt the same way during Covid. But why should it be this way?
Celina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born with a Port Wine Stain birthmark that covers my chin, lip, and cheek. Growing up, I often felt self-conscious because of how different I looked. I was bullied by my peers, told there was something ugly and wrong with me. There were no positive role models to look up to that had a birthmark like me. I had painful laser treatments, probably over 50 since I was a baby, cosmetic surgery to reconstruct my lip. All this effort to look “normal” but it wouldn’t work, it never went away. As an adult I got very good at covering it with make up. I would never leave the house without make up, if I slept over a friends house I’d wake up early to cover it up. I’d be stressed to talk about it with new people, wondering if they noticed it.
But why should I be so stressed? There’s nothing wrong with a little pink mark. It’s not that big of a deal ultimately. There’s so much more to a person than their skin. If people had more information than it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. It’s good to be different!
I always knew that making art about birthmarks would be my calling and in 2020 I finally did it. I began painting people with birthmarks and posting them to Instagram. The response was fantastic!
People loved being represented this way and it gave me so much joy. Since then I’ve met more and more people and decided that I should expand to all types of facial differences. There are so many beauitful faces that need to be seen in the world! All of these types of differences will be seen in my new show.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Michelle, one of my subjects, told me this was the first time anyone had captured her birthmark in a portrait. She’d always been asked if she wanted it removed or hidden, reinforcing the idea that there was something wrong with her.
To assume someone would want their birthmark or facial difference removed only shows a lack of creativity and understanding. Anyone can be beautiful just as they are. She was overjoyed with her painting and the work. I hope everyone can feel this way!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
In a world obsessed with flawless skin and symmetry I aim to honor facial differences by painting them with pride. I want my subjects to feel represented, to see their natural skin as beautiful, and to gain confidence from that. It’s a long journey towards self acceptance, one that starts with not feeling alone and then with the feeling the need to hide.
There’s something profoundly healing about connecting with others who share your experiences. I encourage others with PWS birthmarks, or any kind of difference from the mainstream to seek out communities where there are others like them and they can feel understood and supported.
Through my art, I hope to challenge these perceptions and normalize birthmarks and other differences. Art has the power to change how people see the world. I hope my work helps people approach others with facial differences with curiosity and kindness, not ignorance.
If you are in New York in October 6th please come to my show at Positive Exposure Gallery!
It’s from 1pm-4pm
14 E 109th St, New York, NY 10029
Contact Info:
- Instagram: portwinestainpaintings
Image Credits
Darren McQuade (photo of me)