VISUALIZING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE OF BLINDNESS.
Welcome to the Blind Canvas Project — we’re dedicated to creating new ways to see, understand, and share the human experience of blindness.
PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE BY /
STORIES
- BEN FOX
- BILL MCCANN
- APRIL & MELISSA
- MORTEN BONDE
- MARCUS ROBERTS
- SHARDASIA HADLEY
- WILL HOLLIMON
- WAYNE PEARCY
- DAVE STEELE
- CRAIG ELLIS
- RAQUEL ALIM
- STEVEN MCCOY
- RUSTY PEREZ
- RICKY RUZICKA
- ALAYNA LOPEZ
- DELRIC POLLINS
- MICHAEL TUBIAK
- DOREEN HOLMES
- NIKKI JEFFORDS
- ANTHONY FERRARO
- DEBORAH TRAMENTOZZI
- SOPHIA DUNN-WALKER
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It all starts with a conversation.
It’s impossible to fully communicate the experience of living with blindness, but perhaps we can help more people gain a better understanding.
Each participant is invited to sit down for an hour-long interview to discuss their condition, their lives, and their perspective on living with blindness.
Using AI image generation software, we then transform key moments within each interview into expressive works of art.
Through the Blind Canvas Project, we hope to spark new conversations, spread awareness, and encourage all to realize that those who are blind are not defined by their blindness.
Ben Fox
Founder of the BlindCAN Film Festival, Ben Fox was the diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of eighteen and has continued making films as an advocate for the blind community.
Bill McCann
As founder and president of Dancing Dots Braille Music Technology, as well as a gifted trumpet player and composer, Bill McCann has made music his life’s work.
April & Melissa
April LuFriu and Melissa Escobio are sisters and best friends who do just about everything together, including having retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Morten Bonde
Morten Bonde is an artist, author, TEDx speaker, and mindfulness instructor who fundamentally transformed his life and career after being declared legally blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Marcus Roberts
Marcus Roberts is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher. Hailed “the genius of the modern piano”, Marcus is renowned for his remarkable ability to blend jazz and classical works.
Shardasia Hadley
As a recent high school graduate and Tallahassee local, Shardasia Hadley has excelled in her early career thanks to her incredible spirit and support of her family.
Will Hollimon
For as long as he can remember, Will Hollimon has been driven by his passion for drumming. Over the past decade, he has played in several bands, putting his natural rhythm and impeccable timing to work.
Wayne Pearcy
Wayne Pearcy is quickly making a name for himself, one trumpet solo at a time. As a graduate student in Jazz trumpet, Wayne’s ear for perfect pitch and his incredible dedication are only outmatched by his joy for life.
Dave Steele
Dave Steele is an award-winning poet, author, speaker, singer and advocate for the blind. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in 2014, this genetic eye condition left Dave severely sight impaired.
Craig Ellis
Blindness advocate Craig Ellis has devoted himself to empowering the blind since joining East Texas Lighthouse in 2011, aiming to restore independence and confidence to individuals with visual impairments, serving as a beacon of hope in their lives.
Raquel Alim
Raquel Alim is the Vice President of Foundation Fighting Blindness, San Diego, as well as a dedicated painter and blindness advocate.
Steven McCoy
As the world’s first blind, deaf, black journalist, Steven McCoy is also an entrepreneur, talk show host, writer, producer, and philanthropist with a goal to inspire the next generation with his story.
Rusty Perez
Rusty Perez is a talented singer, songwriter and musician. Rusty’s original music can be found on all streaming services and some of his music has been used in short films and on TV shows such as The Young & The Restless.
Ricky Ruzicka
Ricky Ruzicka was diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy at the age of 23. He has many outlets of joy in his life, including the vision-impairment oriented game of goalball, and most importantly, his loving wife of eight years.
Alayna Lopez
Alayna Lopez, film student at Ohio State University, does not let her retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis interfere with her zest for life.
Delric “D-Roy” Pollins
Delric “D-Roy” Pollins is a renowned hip-hop artist, performer, and advocate with numerous original album releases and a career that includes touring professionally alongside Pitbull. As founder of New Jersey’s Blind Talent Showcase, he brings passion, presence, and purpose to proving that talent has no limits.
Michael Tubiak
Michael Tubiak is a blind BMX rider, marathon runner, podcast host, and creator of the Tubiak Maniac comic series. Through humor, grit, and storytelling, he builds community and challenges perceptions of blindness.
Doreen Holmes
Doreen Holmes is a blind yoga instructor and accessibility advocate who has reimagined inclusive wellness. Through audio-described yoga, she creates spaces where movement, healing, and connection are open to everyone.
Nikki Jeffords
Nikki Jeffords is a lifelong advocate whose work spans grassroots organizing, national policy, and blindness rehabilitation services. Through her work in vocational rehabilitation, she helps advance access, dignity, and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Anthony Ferraro
Anthony Ferraro is a Paralympic athlete, professional skateboarder, musician, and speaker whose work spans sport, creativity, and advocacy. With millions of followers across social platforms, he uses his voice to inspire resilience, challenge perceptions of blindness, and encourage others to live with purpose and confidence.
Deborah Tramentozzi
Deborah Tramentozzi is an Italian accessibility advocate, scholar, and tactile art expert dedicated to expanding how art is experienced beyond sight. Her work helps create more inclusive, multisensory encounters with art.
Sophia Dunn-Walker
Sophia Dunn-Walker is a French-American filmmaker, producer, and actor whose work is shaped by her experience with cone dystrophy. She brings a bold, collaborative approach to storytelling, exploring identity, perception, and creative expression through a deeply personal lens.
PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE BY
For Ora, this project represents our heart, as our patients are at the center of how we partner with pharmaceutical and medical device companies to bring new therapies to market. Helping them is why we do what we do every day, from our clinical trial execution to working with companies to gain new product approvals. As leaders in clinical research, Ora has a crucial responsibility to understand patient experience, and to bring that understanding to our customers and colleagues.