SCAR Stories Art Exhibit Reveals Untold Experiences of Sickle Cell Warriors Through Photography and Narrative

Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation, in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Community Consortium and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, has launched SCAR Stories: A Visual Testimony of Sickle Cell Warriors. This innovative art exhibit captures the untold stories behind the scars of those living with sickle cell disease, offering a profound look into the daily realities of patients known as warriors.

The exhibit officially opened to the public from September 18–20, 2025, at the San Jose Marriott following a special video montage premiere during the 17th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Educational Summit. Through striking photography by Artfully Avant and bold storytelling by Dr. Patrise Holden, Scar Stories brings to light both visible and unseen physical and emotional scars that sickle cell warriors carry throughout their lives.

Each portrait in the exhibition honors the dual nature of scars as symbols of trauma and triumph, pain and perseverance. As one sickle cell warrior explained, "I chose to share my brain scar with the world because it's the one I'm most ashamed of. It also holds the story of what I've survived." This raw honesty forms the foundation of a movement that redefines scars as marks of endurance, survival, and unexpected beauty.

The project represents the first initiative of its kind to comprehensively explore and reveal the visible and hidden scars of sickle cell warriors across the nation. Through photography and personal narrative, participants share their journeys of pain, resilience, and self-acceptance, offering viewers a powerful glimpse into the strength and determination of the sickle cell community.

Curated under the leadership of Carolyn Rowley, PhD, Executive Director of Cayenne Wellness Center, along with photographer Heather Avant and Dr. Patrise Holden as Project Manager, the exhibit benefits from multiple perspectives. Avant, who serves as both photographer and a sickle cell warrior herself, describes the project as "a true visualization of the aftermath of sickle cell on the human body. As warriors, we bear the scars of battle."

The project was made possible through California State Funding awarded to Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation, demonstrating governmental recognition of the importance of raising awareness about sickle cell disease. Visitors can register through the official registration portal at https://bit.ly/cwcscarstoriesexhibit, with summit attendees receiving free entry while general guests are welcome with donations appreciated to support ongoing initiatives.