Name
L Palacio

Brain Tumor Type
Craniopharyngioma

Date of Diagnosis
10/10/2000

Age Group (If you are a caregiver/family member please check Caregiver/Family Member)
Adult: 21 and over

Category
Multimedia/2D/3D

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
This piece is a self portrait I sculpted of myself that I went through the process of creating a mold and casting the original clay sculpture into plaster. I then sanded down the seems and anything else I felt needed touching up and sealed the plaster with was to get rid of the chalky texture.

This piece was inspired by the Ancient Greek and Roman statues we are all familiar with. It a take on the classical idea of the idealized portrait with a twist in the way I interpret the idea of idle. For most of my life I longed to be anyone but me I didn’t want the scars the illness I thought I was flawed and broken I wanted to be normal. This changed as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that isn’t what I wanted instead I craved acceptance of who I am including all my scars and jagged edges. It’s only just recently I learned the only acceptance I need is my own and that has freed me to be unapologetically me scars and all. That’s why this piece symbolizes my ideal portrait where others see flaws and damage I see myself full and whole just like I have always been. The scars I carry with me are apart of me and my story and there is no ideal version without them for if there were that would no longer be me.

Bio (include your age, tumor type and date of diagnosis)
Hi! My name is L I’m 25 years old and one semester away from graduating with my bachelor’s in fine arts. I was diagnosed with a crainopharyngioma at just two years old on October the 10th 2000. I had a total resection and have been in remission for coming up on 23 years. I still deal with many of the side effects from my tumor which was rather large including blindness in my right eye and tunnel vision in my left everything that come with a missing pituitary gland including bone density issues fatigue and lot of medication and hospitalizations. That said I haven’t let that stop me in perusing Art in some ways it may be the reason I became so interested in art. Nothing brightened up my long hospital stays and sick days more then being able to do crafts or color. I remember being jealous other kids got to do all these things that I couldn’t, but when it came to art I felt more free from the chronic illness I live with and helped me endure all the struggles I’ve been through. No matter how much this tumor has taken from me art is the one thing it will never be able to. This gives me comfort and continues to inspire me down my artistic path.