Cayenne Wellness Center and Children's Foundation will debut Scar Stories: A Visual Testimony of Sickle Cell Warriors, a new art exhibit that explores the physical and emotional impact of sickle cell disease through photography and personal narratives. The exhibit opens with a celebration on July 31, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Cayenne Wellness Center Sanctuary and Art Gallery in Glendale, California, and runs through December 6, 2026.
Sickle cell disease causes severe pain, repeated hospitalizations, surgeries, and organ failure, leaving both visible scars and unseen emotional trauma. Scar Stories aims to bring those experiences to light through a collection of portraits by photographer Heather Avant of Artfully Avant, herself a sickle cell warrior. Each portrait captures the strength, vulnerability, and resilience of warriors, paired with personal narratives curated by Dr. Patrise Holden of The Language Key.
Attendees can purchase a companion book extending the exhibit with documentary photography and stories. Thanks to Agios Pharmaceuticals, featured participants receive a complimentary copy. The opening celebration will include a press conference at 6:30 p.m., live music, food, and remarks from elected officials including Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Mayor Barbara Lee of Oakland, Assembly Members Mike Gipson and Nick Schultz, and Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian.
"As the photographer and a warrior myself, Scar Stories is a true visualization of the aftermath of sickle cell disease on the human body," Avant said. "As warriors, we bear the scars of battle." Dr. Carolyn Rowley, Executive Director of Cayenne Wellness Center, added, "By documenting the physical scars and personal narratives, this project transforms what is often hidden into a powerful visual testimony of survival, resilience, and strength."
The exhibit is presented in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Community Consortium and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Tickets and event details are available at scarstoriesexhibit.com. Cayenne Wellness Center, founded in 2000, is a nonprofit dedicated to improving lives of those with sickle cell disease through comprehensive care, education, and advocacy.
