Lauren

Lauren, 2026
Acrylic on Canvas
10 x 10 x 1.5 in

Signed on Back

Model: Lauren

This work is part of The Tracy Piper's "SEEN Volume 5" the fifth iteration of a collaborative art project of 50 eye paintings that were made during the first half of 2026. For this series, the artist organized an open call for her collectors, fans, and fellow artists to be featured as one of her models. Each participant answered the same question: What does it mean to feel seen? Each painting and response is featured in the artist’s sixth book aptly titled "SEEN Volume 5".

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEEL SEEN?

" For as long as I can remember, I felt different. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA by Midwestern, very conservative parents. My siblings and I went to a private Christian school. We had to go to church every Sunday, but religion never resonated with me. It didn’t make sense, science did. Seeing a therapist was out of the question; psychologists weren’t considered real doctors. Creatives were labeled losers. You weren’t really allowed to question any of that. School was always difficult for me. I was a daydreamer unless the subject really caught my interest, and I was always told to try harder. I never understood why it looked so easy for others, but no wonder I spent so much of my life masking and trying to fit in. Looking back, I now understand that my brain and nervous system is just wired differently, even if I didn’t have the knowledge or words for it yet. 

Being diagnosed with AuDHD late in life (just over a year ago) explained a lifetime of feeling like “too much” and misunderstood. I had been managing big emotions, and unconsciously masking to fit into spaces that weren’t built for my brain or nervous system. I didn’t know I was masking; I thought that’s what everyone had to do, that I just needed to try harder. Internally, I was very critical of myself. Now, with language and context, everything finally makes sense. I can breathe. Feeling seen is the quiet relief of realizing I’m not broken. I’m just wired differently.

What is AuDHD? I had never heard of it. I learned that it’s essentially two neurotypes, ADHD and autism, living in the same brain, and they spend most of their time arguing. It can look different for everyone, but for me, ADHD says, “Let’s do all the things!” while autism replies, “Sure, but only if every detail is predictable, controlled, and exactly right.” Expectations have always been my kryptonite. 

I have a strong sense of justice that sometimes feels like a superpower…or a workplace hazard, depending on the day. Some days you’re too much. Other days you’re not enough. Most days, you’re somehow both at the same time. You crave novelty, but routine is your lifeline. One side says, “Let’s go meet everyone!” while the other says, “Can we maybe…not?” You seek stimulation, then pay for it dearly. 

It also affects how I connect with people. I’ve always been labeled as a “people” person, yet I can often feel awkward in social settings. Staying in touch can be hard in an “out of sight, out of mind” way, not because I forget my loved ones, but because time doesn’t register the same. When I do reconnect with someone I care about, it feels like picking up right where we left off. Add in rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), where feedback, tone, or perceived distance can land far harder than intended. It’s a constant push and pull - contradictory, exhausting, and oddly impressive once you realize what you’re actually juggling.

I feel seen when people are accepting and curious instead of dismissive - when they ask questions because they genuinely want to understand me, not fix or minimize. Being told you seem fine, or you must be “high-functioning” can feel invalidating. Those terms usually point to strong masking, not ease. Behind that is a nervous system working overtime - adapting, enduring, and managing far more than is visible. It means the world when people take the time to learn rather than defaulting to, “Well, everyone’s a little on the spectrum.” Respectfully, no. Information is very available if you are curious.

Feeling seen is being loved and believed without debate, having my boundaries respected without defensiveness, and having my deep care - for people and animals, for fairness, for doing the right thing - understood as part of how I love. It’s NOT always subtle or chill, but it is sincere. I have not changed; I’m just done editing myself for everyone else’s comfort. The version of me people knew wasn’t fake, just heavily filtered. I’m also finally tapping into my creative side, and it feels wonderful - though it can still feel scary, and the pull of approval doesn’t entirely go away.

Not everyone in my life knows about this yet. It can be overwhelming. It’s been a process figuring out when it’s safe to open up and to show up unfiltered. Some know, and they’ve made it easier to show up fully. Some of the others haven’t always understood or shown up in the ways I hoped. It can be disappointing, but I try to accept that everyone’s journey toward understanding is different. My growth isn’t dependent on anyone else’s timing.

While the two neurotypes in my brain continue their ongoing negotiations, I’m still learning and still a work in progress - but doing so while finally feeling seen, even by myself, is a huge upgrade in life." — Lauren

HANGING & CARE

Artwork is ready to hang on the wall; hanging wire is secured on the back (nail and hook needed). Dust raw canvas with a clean, soft brush and HEPA-filtered vacuum to clean. Using a new, clean brush prevents transfer of grime from previous dustings.