About the artist

Abel

• American artist
• B 1965-
• Chicago,IL.
• Native of Logan Square, Chicago
• The School Of The Art Institute of Chicago. MFA
• Columbia College Chicago. BFA
• DePaul University Chicago. CDM
• Legally Blind 2017

Soon after loosing most of my eye sight due to the late onset of a rare genetic disease, my art practice stopped. Slowly, restarted my work by drawing and painting mostly from memory. Places, people, family members, memories which engraved themselves deep inside.
Growing up in Logan Square, and later becoming a commercial advertising fashion photographer, defined me then. Today, not by choice, but by inheritance, passed from my mother to me, I have become designated as “Legally Blind”. When I first lost my vision and my diagnosis I was surprised, confused, and simply mad. Today,
I am at peace. Although my eyes are mostly dark and silent, I’m able to see much further. My vision has expanded, making me feel much more caring for everyone. This is only possible by the care I receive from my doctors at Northwestern Medicine, and the love of my life, Gia, and her father. In a world made by and for sighted, able people, one makes do on the edges of each day. We must choose not to be silent, or feel handicapped. We must choose to be present, to exist, and to be heard. I use to feel embarrassed and ashamed not to see like the many anymore. I avoided public spaces and human contact to avoid becoming a hindrance in the flow of the many. Tat was then, but this is now. Through my art practice I hope to help the many to see as I do. I lost most of my sight, but not my vision. To see the world in all its colors —- all though the loving eyes of ART.

Abel.