Reflections of Beauty is a portrait series by artist Celina Leroy featuring more than 50 painted portraits of individuals with vascular birthmarks and craniofacial differences.

 

The collection includes people with Port Wine Stain (PWS) birthmarks, Sturge-Weber syndrome, cleft lip and pallet and other visible differences.

 

Most recently exhibited at Positive Exposure Gallery in Manhattan in May 2026, the series places particular emphasis on Port Wine Stains; congenital vascular malformations that affect approximately 1 in every 300 children. Often appearing on the face, these birthmarks are frequently misunderstood and can darken or thicken over time.

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Celina Leroy is a Brooklyn-based artist and New York City art teacher born with a Port Wine Stain birthmark on her lip, chin, and cheek. Drawing from her own lived experience, her work explores themes of identity, visibility, beauty standards, and the social stigma surrounding facial differences.

 

Through portrait painting, Leroy combines art, advocacy, and education to create meaningful representation for people with visible differences, fostering greater understanding while helping individuals feel seen, celebrated, and empowered.

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Follow her story on instagram: @Port_wine_and_paint