Miami, FL, USA - Undated

Footage shows Marisa Papen explaining the project 'Flower to life.

Modern art fans are in a flap after a massive photo portrait of an artist's vagina was banned by social media censors.

The five-foot-high image of former Playboy model Marisa Papen's vulva created a huge buzz at Art Basel in Miami Art Week in Florida State, USA, last month.

Marisa, 31, and her partner and husband, Michael Chichi created the intimate portrait called 'Flower Of Life' to encourage people to explore their emotions and life origins.

Photos taken at the launch show proud Marisa posing in front of the artwork wearing a headband and carrying a tote bag with other images of her vagina. It was also massively popular with the crowds as video footage shows.

But now Marisa has accused Instagram censors of banning the image from fans' selfies on their platform.

She said: "Thousands of selfies were taken with the artwork over the course of the week.

"However, only a few hours after the opening, the gallery was informed that multiple people had posted their selfies on Instagram, and it was removed within minutes.