When ‘Perfect’ Isn’t Perfect: The Facetune Portraits Project

We live in a world obsessed with perfection. AI, filters, and cosmetic enhancements promise flawless skin, symmetrical features, and “ideal” looks—but in the process, we lose the uniqueness that makes each face memorable.

Discover a project that challenges the idea of AI perfection. Facetune Portraits makes visible the homogenization happening in beauty, social media, and celebrity culture. Follow along if you believe imperfection is powerful.

Enter Facetune Portraits, a groundbreaking project by Gretchen Andrew that exposes this invisible homogenization. Using custom robotics, an oil painter printer, and a decade of creative experimentation, the project transforms digital “perfection” into a tangible, visible critique. Every portrait in the series highlights how AI and social pressure are making faces—once distinct—start to look the same.

This isn’t just about art—it’s about noticing the cultural shift. Celebrities, influencers, and everyday social media users are participating in a system that rewards uniformity over individuality. The project asks a simple question: what happens when “perfect” becomes a standard, and what do we lose when we all conform to it?

Facetune Portraits doesn’t just critique—it celebrates imperfection. It encourages us to see beauty in authenticity and to question the artificial ideals constantly imposed on our screens. Every brushstroke and robot-assisted print is a reminder that flaws, quirks, and unique features are worth noticing.

Follow this project if you believe imperfection is powerful, if you resist the pressure to conform to algorithmic beauty standards, and if you’re ready to reconsider what “perfect” really means.