Who I am:

I am a blind/disabled artist, writer, educator and advocate. I work in painting, ceramics, installation, and text to create objects and experiences that address the condition of blindness, while questioning the imposing hierarchical structures that continue to shape, oppress, and favor the ocularcentric. My artworks are songs for blind and visually impaired people, weeping icons for those who do not exist in the minds of others.

My Fulbright grant focuses on:

My research will focus on cultural attitudes towards ableism through the lens of Polish post-war mosaics and architectural ceramics, specifically factories that once housed blind/disabled workers following the reconstruction of the country after World War II. I will visit the places that housed blind/disabled workers across Poland, to connect their forgotten stories among decaying edifices. In doing so, I will produce my own tactile works of art that explore the subversive role that architecture has played in marginalizing people with disabilities from society, all while documenting this unique sphere of Polish architectural heritage that is at risk of disappearing.

I decided to apply for a Fulbright grant because:

I applied for a Fulbright because I was interested in researching the blind/disabled experience from the perspective of another country, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with others, and connect with my heritage. Much like a Polish post-war architectural mosaic, my history contains many broken fragments that have been haphazardly assembled together. I know that my ancestors lived in Poland, but any memory of this place seems to deteriorate over the course of time – much like my vision. I hope to reconstruct what has been shattered, across the vast art-filled landscape that stretches across Poland, through touch and sight unseen.

After completing my Fulbright grant I would like to:

After completing my Fulbright, I plan to become an arts educator for other blind people, while continuing to pursue my practice as an artist. Through my independent research and studio-based work, I will continue to advocate for a language of accessibility and accommodation in a seemingly inaccessible world, one that prioritizes vision over the other senses.