26th August 2022 • My Family Our Needs
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the non-profit Smile Train, presented a major exhibition of cleft lip and palate portraits by UK artist Katie Manning.
Katie Manning showcased a portion of her 100 Cleft Portraits project at The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), housed at the historic Palais des Nations. The exhibition will now be coming to the lighthouse gardens and community centre, Stratford 38 Celebration Ave, East Village, London E20 1DB from 1st October 2022.
Five of Manning’s portraits form this exhibition as part of the Art Impact for Health initiative by WHO and Smile train. This art series focuses on supporting children with cleft lip and palate to improve their quality of life and build confidence and self-esteem through artistic expression.
Katie Manning, April 2022. Photo: Charlotte Broster
Rachael and Lucas, June 2021 Artist: Katie Manning
Katie Manning explains why this project matters so much, ‘My personal life, learning and understanding combined with my ambitious creative energy and drive to support and guide others has dovetailed into a unique creative project and beautiful community. I share my experiences and learnings over the last 15 years as the parent of a beautiful girl born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. It is my aim to build a legacy, which empowers the cleft community and educates the global population about all things cleft. It does not define nor discriminate, but it does impact the path of those who encounter it and their journey which needs to be understood and respected.’
This exhibition is just a small snapshot of the 100 Cleft Portraits project Katie Manning is currently curating. If you’d like to be involved or support this initiative, visit www.katiemanning.co.uk
About Katie Manning
Katie Manning is a UK artist, creative visionary and coach. She is dedicated to helping those with cleft lip and palate, their loved ones and friends find inner peace, cultivate self-esteem and build towards facial equality through portraits and creative expression. Manning is currently qualifying for an Integrated Trauma-informed coaching certification, awarded by the Caroline Strawson school of Embodied Trauma-Informed Living to further support her 100 Cleft Portrait project and other work in this space with families of cleft affected children.
Email: katie@katiemanning.co.uk