ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kelley Kossanyi is a fine artist, brand enthusiast, and feminine advocate. She holds a marketing, entrepreneurship, and fine arts degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Her artistic practice demonstrates the full scope of what it means to be a woman; a raw reflection of strength and weakness.
MY STORY
Three years after exhausting a vast network of doctors I received a life altering autoimmune diagnosis, lichen sclerosus. Many women go through decades of suffering and longing for answers without the luxury of a diagnosis to validate and receive support for their pain. This is due to an extreme lack of education and research.
Through my experience I wished to feel heard, seen, & understood. I believe there is a large community of women who are also sharing this desire. If not battling LS, they may suffer vaginitis, vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, or many other chronic conditions that the general population is vastly unaware of.
Through the pain of longing for a voice, I found a new way of starting this conversation through my imagery. A way that masked the stigmas and
discomfort of discussing the feminine experience using common everyday foods like an orange and a pepper to represent so, so much more.
My initial goal was to find a voice, then it became to introduce that language to those around me, and now - it is to educate all who are willing to listen.
You have my deepest gratitude for being willing to embark on this mission with me by sharing and hanging my images. 10% of these funds will be donated to the Lichen Sclerosus Support Network to help give more women their voice.
Thank you for joining me by helping to start the conversation,
