Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is proud to announce it will host a stop of the 100 Cleft Portraits Tour, a national traveling art exhibition celebrating the strength, beauty, and lived experiences of people born with cleft lip and/or palate. Launching during ACPA's National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month in July, the tour will visit 12 cities across the United States through August 2026.
The exhibition will be on display at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 26, 2026, and is free and open to the public.
Created by UK-based artist, advocate, and trauma-informed coach Katie Manning, the exhibition features 100 stunning portraits of individuals affected by cleft, each accompanied by a deeply personal story. The tour is presented by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) with national support from Children’s Mercy Hospital-Kansas City, Smile Train, myFace and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
“We are thrilled to host this event at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and UTHealth. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the unique faces and smiles in all of our patients,” said Dr. Matthew Greives, pediatric plastic surgeon and Chair of Plastic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “So many of our patients and families have never met or seen other children with cleft lip and palate, and we hope many of our patients have the opportunity to see themselves in these works of art and recognize the beauty in their shared experiences.”
The Houston stop is one of 12 cities on the tour's U.S. itinerary, running from July through August 2026. Each stop takes place at or in partnership with an ACPA Approved cleft and craniofacial care team and features the full 100 portraits alongside trauma-informed education sessions, creative workshops, and community conversations — creating a meaningful bridge between healthcare providers and the families they serve.
The Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery program at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital cares for more than 800 patients annually, distinguishing it as a leading high-volume center. The program specializes in providing advanced care for children with cleft lip and palate issues, ensuring that each patient receives specialized treatment from birth through adulthood.