It is my honor to have my work “Anxiety & Trauma, Series 2020” included in the in-person Unbound Visual Artists exhibition Invisible Disabilities.
Curatorial Statement:
Samantha Joyce, Curator
When we look at art, we want to see ourselves represented in it and in the space where the art is showcased. But what happens when you have a disability that is not easily seen by the naked eye?
Disabilities such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder), ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), chronic illnesses, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and mental illnesses are not always recognizable to individuals who are not familiar with them. Because invisible disabilities often go unrecognized, people with invisible disabilities are underrepresented in many gallery exhibitions.
With this exhibition, I want to create a safe and welcoming place for individuals who have invisible disabilities to share their experiences and their artwork. This exhibition aims to represent a variety of experiences and explores questions about representation: In what ways do works of visual art shed light on the experiences of those with invisible disabilities? To whom are different invisible disabilities visible and to whom are they invisible? Can increasing representation of individuals with invisible disabilities in art and other media lead to broader social changes?
It is my hope that this exhibit helps educate the public about invisible disabilities and provides a framework for how invisible disabilities can be better represented in the visual arts. I want other galleries and museums to see what we have created and follow suit, so we can continue to build a wider audience for artists with invisible disabilities.