Trying to Live Up to a Digital Ghost: Gretchen Andrew’s Facetune Portraits

In Facetune Portraits: Universal Beauty, Gretchen Andrew transforms AI-powered beauty into something painfully human. Her work exposes the invisible labor of self-perfection — the emotional and psychological toll of trying to meet algorithmic ideals.

Gretchen Andrew explores the physical and emotional impact of digital beauty standards through her haunting quote: “My art shows you the physical scars of trying to live up to a digital ghost.

The phrase “trying to live up to a digital ghost” encapsulates the eerie truth of our era: we’ve turned software-generated versions of ourselves into the standards we strive to become. Through her signature blend of irony and intimacy, Gretchen invites viewers to reflect on what happens when beauty becomes binary — when the tools meant to “enhance” instead erase.

Each portrait is both glamorous and grotesque, revealing the tension between aspiration and authenticity. The exhibition serves as a visual confrontation with our collective obsession with digital selfhood, where perfection leaves scars we can’t filter out.

Building on her international recognition — including the Acquisition Award at Untitled Art Miami Beach and shows at Hope 93 Gallery in London and Heft Gallery in New York — Gretchen continues to redefine the intersection of art, technology, and identity.