Lena Regina Smith

From the hills of Canehill, Arkansas to the halls of Capitol Hill, Lena Smith is using her art and voice to advocate for the rare disease community.A self-taught artist living with Granular Corneal Dystrophy, Lena was named a Rare Artist Awardee in the national Rare Artist Contest and honored during Rare Disease Week 2025 in Washington, D.C. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and fierce hope.Once a wedding photographer, Lena turned to painting after her vision began to decline. Her vibrant, emotionally rich art reflects the unique way she now experiences the world, through texture, memory, and what she calls her "superpower."In this inspiring conversation, Lena shares her journey from rejection to recognition, her advocacy work, and how she continues to live “mad, hard, and furious” while creating beauty every step of the way.Follow Lena online at www.instagram.com/lenareginaartist