Changing the Narrative: Turning Something I used to be Ashamed of into Art

Clare Gregory is an artist and menstrual justice advocate, reshaping the narrative around menstruation through art which explores her own experiences of endometriosis, fibromyalgia and grief.

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Growing up, I always knew there was something different about my periods. Starting puberty early in comparison to my peers with heavy and incredibly painful periods, I always felt ashamed of my body. Now 24, I have used these differences in my art as a way to advocate for a condition that impacts 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth. Back in 2021, after a long time of suffering during my menstrual cycle, I was diagnosed with an incurable condition known as endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in areas all over the body. It is most commonly reported to be found in the pelvis but is in fact a whole body condition, having been found on every major organ as well as even growing on the skin. Whilst it is important to note that endometriosis isn't a period or uterus born disease, it does impact someone's menstrual cycle causing painful ovulation, excruciating periods, heavy bleeding as well as big blood

clots. Other symptoms can also be cyclical including bleeding from the bum from bowel endometriosis and collapsed lungs from thoracic endometriosis. Between 2021 and 2025, I have had 3 surgeries to find and remove endometriosis. This has totalled to having 3 endometriomas removed and endometriosis removed from my pouch of douglas and uterovesicle pouch. I am also under investigation for problems related to my bowel.

After my scan, art became a way to cope with the frustrations I had with my body and the system, despite at points still feeling awkward about being entirely open in exploring my illness. However, this changed in 2023 when I started to draw my body after my second surgery and created my final project for university, ‘X Marks the Spot.’

During the later stages of my recovery from surgery, I did a few life studies of myself, looking at my body and its new scars. From these I built up the courage to start posting them on my socials where they garnered quite a few positive responses. This sparked the catalyst that turned it into a fully fledged project and launched me into being a dedicated advocate.

‘X Marks the Spot,’ 2023

‘X Marks the Spot,’ 2023

‘X Marks the Spot,’ is a series of work I created in my final year and unit of university.

Inspired by my experiences after my second surgery for endometriosis and taking reference from my body and its scars. This series started as rough sketches, from life and from photos, done in mixed media and more controlled sketches done in oil pastel. These then progressed into larger scale pieces, enlarging the smaller changes in my abdomen due to the surgery and confronting the viewer with my scars. This project was finished off by a large scale, red, triptych piece. This large scale piece was freestanding, canvas suspended from metal frames using red thread. The incorporation of thread and metal were conscious decisions to help in building the concept of the piece, hinting at surgery and the hospital environment. The piece was displayed in my final exhibitions at university, in Norwich and London.

‘Endo Belly Buttons,’ 2023-ongoing

‘Endo Belly Buttons,’ 2023-ongoing

‘Endo Belly Buttons,’ was my first series of artwork I started creating as a graduate. The

concept for ‘Endo Belly Buttons,’ was born from a painting I did of my own belly button during the week I spent in a shared artist studio space. I was looking over and experimenting with closer crops on photos I had from my university project, where I settled on the close crop of my belly button and its scars. This piece unexpectedly got a lot of attention which inspired me to generate a series of them, opening up the opportunity to other endometriosis sufferers. I was further inspired by the meaning of the belly button, the first scar we get but one that is valued and has been imbued with symbolism. It was an interesting contrast to have one we have been born with and is widely accepted vs one that people find embarrassing or have shame in.

Since the start of this series, ‘Endo Belly Buttons,’ has grown to 18 belly buttons. Each from a different person, each with a different look showcasing individual experiences with endometriosis. Experiences vary from those who have had their first surgery to others who have had multiple as well as those who are not as represented in the community, having had Endometriosis infiltrate uncommon areas, even the belly button itself. These, when shared via social media, are accompanied by the story of the sufferer to describe their journeys and to show the severe impact of this disease. What is evident by the series so far is the overwhelming number of participants who suffer from painful periods and from their teenage years have been dismissed from the system that was supposed to help them.

In the years of exploring my condition through art, it has become easier to talk about my periods. Something I used to associate with deep shame and embarrassment can now be transformed into a work of art that a whole community can relate to. Within my vulnerability, I have found strength which has given me the opportunity to participate in plenty of projects, expanding my period advocacy by being able to openly talk about my issues with menstrual health on podcasts, in articles, on the radio, at exhibitions and all over social media.

Periods are not taboo and by normalising the word and having open discussions about them, we improve the chances of the future generation getting help quicker when they know something isn’t right.