This is a portrait of a lovely person who wanted to become part of the gallery, together with the words she wanted to share with you: “For the last 7 years, I've suffered from a depressed vagina. Can you believe that’s a real thing? I take antidepressants for it everyday. It's a condition called vulvodynia, which causes persistent pain in my labia and at the entrance to my vagina. For the 2 years before I'd been diagnosed, I would often wake up in the night in tears from the sunburn-like pain radiating from my vulva. Doctors told me it was thrush, dermatitis - even allergies to soap powder. I tried lotions, pessaries, ice packs, huge cotton undies. Sometimes I couldn't sit down, I felt unsexy and unfeminine. For me, finally taking tablets and being able to control some of the pain is a tiny triumph. I know there are lots of women out there struggling with vulval pain which often goes misdiagnosed and mistreated. It's because we don't talk about our bodies enough, and vaginal problems are something we've become ashamed of. Don't let years pass you by before you take control of your vaginal health. If you've had similar symptoms, you might have vulvodynia. Go ask your doctor for a full check up. Self care is best care ♥️” • Thank you for being part of the gallery ♥️ • • • #thevulvagallery #portrait #bodypositivity #bodypositiveart #youarebeautiful #humananatomy #labia #respecteachother #embracediversity #shareyourstory #personalgrowth #empowerment #empathy #love #loveyourself #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

The vulva is not the same body part as the vagina. The vulva is the external part of the genitalia and consists of many different parts. The labia majora (or outer labia) are the two lips extending on either side of the vulva. They consist mostly of skin and fatty tissue, and often have a plump appearance (but they can be thinner/skinnier, depending on your anatomy). The labia minora (inner labia) are two soft folds of fat-free, hairless skin between the labia majora. They enclose and protect the vulvar vestibule, urethra and vaginal opening. The upper portion of each of the inner labia splits to join with both the clitoral glans (the tip of the clitoris), and the clitoral hood. The size of the clitoral hood can vary from very short (even barely visible) to very long. Both the inner and outer surfaces of the labia majora contain sebaceous glands (oil glands), and sweat glands. The labia majora have fewer superficial nerve endings than the rest of the vulva, but the skin is highly vascuralized. The internal surface of the labia minora is a thin moist skin, and the labia minora have a core of erectile tissue. So many interesting parts of anatomy 💛✨#thevulvagallery #vulvas #vulvaart #loveyourself #labia #empowerment #bodypositive #bodypositivity #genderinclusivity #genderequality #watercolorillustration #positivity #bodylove #selflove #youarebeautiful #hildeatalanta

Q: if your vulva would have a name, what would it be - and why? ♥️ • • • #thevulvagallery #sharinglove #humananatomy #labia #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

This is a portrait of a lovely person who wanted to become part of the gallery, together with the words she wanted to share with you: “I have trichotillomania, a disorder that causes me to compulsively pull my hair out. It is what's classified as a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior, a category that also includes dermatillomania (skin picking) and chronic nail biting. I don't remember a time in my post-pubescent life when I didn't have patchy, uneven pubic hair due to pulling. This has always been a point of insecurity for me, and I often feel obligated to shave in order to hide my disorder. When talking about the disorder, most use the scalp or eyebrows as examples, but hair pulling can be from any place on your body, including your pubic hair. Up to 4% of the overall population suffers from the disorder, mainly adults, and while I know from talking to them that many other sufferers pull from their pubic regions, very few are open about it, finding the same shame and insecurity. I hope that by showing my vulva as it is, others can see that they're not alone. For more information, check out http://www.bfrb.org/learn-about-bfrbs/trichotillomania” • Thank you for being part of the gallery ♥️ • • • #thevulvagallery #trichotillomania #trichotillomaniaawareness #portrait #bodypositivity #bodypositiveart #youarebeautiful #humananatomy #labia #respecteachother #embracediversity #shareyourstory #personalgrowth #empowerment #empathy #love #loveyourself #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

(CW: self harm) This is a portrait of a lovely person who wanted to become part of the gallery, together with the words she wanted to share with you: “I have always suffered from low self esteem but a really low point for me (and my vulva) was a reaction to a negative comment on the before photos of labiaplasty patients. My self confidence plummeted and I attempted to cut off the parts of my inner labia that are visible when standing: the little extra bits that get caught when riding a bike; the skin that I am conscious of when I stand front on, naked, facing somebody; the sensitive parts that touch my inner thighs when I walk unclothed, reminding me always that they are there; the bits that I tuck inside my outer labia when wearing tight jeans or riding a bike or even just when I want to stand in front of the mirror and pretend that I am ‘neat’. Luckily I didn’t get very far before the realisation of what I was attempting to do took over. I healed with no visible damage but it was the beginning of a journey to self acceptance and confidence. I found blogs dedicated to women with larger labia and art pieces celebrating female genital diversity. The Vulva Gallery has been the icing on the cake, because to see a vulva depicted from the front, showing the limitless variety in shape, size, texture, colour and every other possible variation alongside positive messages of acceptance is a daily reminder to be kind to myself and continue to try to embrace and be proud of my uniqueness." • Thank you for being part of the gallery ♥️ • • • #thevulvagallery #portrait #bodypositivity #bodypositiveart #youarebeautiful #humananatomy #labia #respecteachother #embracediversity #shareyourstory #personalgrowth #empowerment #empathy #love #loveyourself #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

This is a portrait of a lovely person who wanted to become part of the gallery, together with the words she wanted to share with you: “I remember when I was younger I noticed that I had a long labia but I never thought anything of it. One day I was with someone and he noticed it and asked what it was, he acted like he was disgusted and I was mortified. After that I would try to tuck my labia in between my lips so no one would see it. I didn't think that something like my vulva was something considered gross. It's been somethings that's bothered me for a long time, even today I have to remind myself that all of us are beautiful, even me. This page has helped a lot, showing me and other women that all of us are different but we shouldn't be mean to our vulvas.” • Thank you for being part of the gallery ♥️ • • • #thevulvagallery #portrait #bodypositivity #bodypositiveart #youarebeautiful #humananatomy #labia #respecteachother #embracediversity #shareyourstory #personalgrowth #empowerment #empathy #love #loveyourself #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

And the result of today’s painting session! Two galleries; one mixed and one pink. They are hand painted, signed and only 1 of each available 🙌🏾 The original illustrations are for sale; you can find them in the shop: www.thevulvagallery.com/shop or click on the link in my profile ✨ I ship world wide! ✨ • • • #thevulvagallery #vulvas #watercolorillustration #bodydiversity #bodypositivity #humananatomy #labia #pubichair #bodyhair #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

So this is what it looks like when I paint (you can watch more in my stories) - I made a little time lapse again so you can watch the process 😊 • • #superquickpainting #timelapse #watercolor #watercolorillustration #thevulvagallery #vulvaart #vulvas #bodydiversity #hildeatalanta

The Vulva Gallery loves pubic hair! ♥️ Pubic hair has many benefits. It offers a natural barrier to keep things clean (protection from viruses and bacteria from outside), it also protects the tender skin underneath and helps to control the moisture of the skin (thereby decreasing the chances of yeast infection and skin damage). And third, it's an extension of our senses: at the bottom of each hair follicle, there is a nerve ending. When you brush through your hair, every little hair sends sensation through the hair to the nerve ending. So besides that pubic hair looks cute, it can give you pleasure too! 💛 ✨ • • • #thevulvagallery #vulvas #respecteachother #empowerment #bodylove #genderinclusivity #positivity #humananatomy #bodypositive #selflove #watercolorillustration #loveyourself #bodyhairpositive #pubichair #hildeatalanta

This is a portrait of a lovely person who wanted to become part of the gallery, together with the words she wanted to share with you: “I feel that movements like The Vulva Gallery, that celebrate our body diversity, are essential. I would have never taken part in a portrait of this sort without the education and self-acceptance brought on by seeing other female bodies in a non-sexualised manner. Immersing myself in empowering female artwork over the last year has done more for my mental health and self-worth than anything before.  I encourage anyone that thinks it might be fun to get involved - either by joining a movement as safe and supportive as this, or creating your own (even/ESPECIALLY if you’d never considered yourself artistic before!).” • Thank you for being part of the gallery ♥️ • • • Would you like to become part of the gallery as well? Send me an e-mail to thevulvagallery@gmail.com ✨ • • • #thevulvagallery #portrait #bodypositivity #bodypositiveart #youarebeautiful #humananatomy #labia #respecteachother #embracediversity #shareyourstory #personalgrowth #empowerment #empathy #love #loveyourself #loveyourvulva #hildeatalanta

Looking for a cute Valentine’s day gift? Today 25% off all coffee mugs and other items in my Society6 shop with code VDAY25 (society6.com/thevulvagallery) ♥️♥️♥️ And yes, all items are shipped world wide ✨ • • • #thevulvagallery #vulvamug #coffeemug #teamug #teatime #coffeetime #vulvalove #thevulvagallery #vulvaart #bodypositive #bodypositivity #genderinclusivity #positivity #humananatomy #labiaart #selflove #empowerment #loveyourself #loveyourvulva #youarebeautiful #hildeatalanta