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The Art of Disability Culture



Artists with disabilities dispelling myths, dissolving barriers, and disrupting prejudice

September 11-December 11, 2021



Introduction to the exhibition


The Art of Disability Culture provides an invitation and a gentle provocation. The exhibition features work created by artists with disabilities celebrating their insight, fragility, honesty, and resilience. Engaging with this art will envelop you in a safe space of reflection and contemplation, one in which it is fine to stare and experience the humanity of others. We hope that you leave the exhibition with a new perspective, inspiration, and possibly more questions than you came with.

One in four of us either has a disability currently, or will acquire one as we age, and although we have the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), discrimination and exclusion persist. Indeed, many disabled artists have worked as activists because the world is unfortunately not always accessible. The Bay Area is a fertile home to many organizations and activists who continue to forward disability rights and disability justice. Disabled artists are an integral part of this strong and expanding ecosystem. Their practice and their work provide us all with a valuable model of communication and support that relies on interdependence, patience, and ingenuity.

This enhanced website for the exhibition includes images with alt text and audio files with visual descriptions of the works of art in the exhibition, recorded by the artist whenever possible. Audio descriptions are also available in the gallery at the Art Center via QR codes, as well as a comprehensive Braille guide for blind and visually impaired visitors. All related exhibition events have American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, live captioning, and online components.

Fran Osborne
Guest Curator

Artists in Exhibition