Artist turns vision loss into inspiration

PITTSBURGH —

Benny “Blindspots” Schwartz, a Pennsylvania-based artist, has turned his vision loss into a source of inspiration, creating art that is now displayed in galleries and corporate spaces across North America.

Schwartz was diagnosed in 2014 with neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the optic nerve.

“It did leave me with lasting blind spots in the center of each visual field of my eye,” Schwartz said. “And it kind of comes out as, like I would say, it’s white lights that are missing parts of the picture.”

After his diagnosis, Schwartz spent five years struggling to come to terms with his condition.

“I had always been thinking God owed me vision, you know, but that’s not true,” he said. “And perhaps only through this illness and this kind of struggle and this blindness, am I going to reach my potential.”

A friend and fellow artist encouraged Schwartz to embrace his creativity.

“Create, create, create,” Schwartz recalled his friend saying. “He offered to put me in a pop-up art show if I started to try to paint the blurriness that I was seeing.”

Schwartz began painting, finding a sense of control and purpose through his art.

“I found myself making lines and shapes and then finding the images, bringing them out,” he said. “All of a sudden, I was back in control of my visual field for a little bit, you know, for just those moments of doing the art.”

His studio is now filled with pieces from his early brushstrokes to his current works, many of which are displayed in galleries and corporate spaces, including State Street and JP Morgan Chase. These opportunities were made possible through ArtLifting, a company that markets and advocates for artists with disabilities.

“It’s hard to be an artist. It’s even harder to be an artist who maybe has a disability that limits the way that they can participate or show up in the art world or in the corporate art market,” said Michael Korcek, marketing director with ArtLifting. “So ArtLifting exists to knock down those doors, knock down those barriers for these artists.”

ArtLifting represents 235 artists across North America, including Schwartz.

“He really kind of answers the question, what does an artist make with vision loss, not despite it,” Korcek said. “He started exploring art as an avenue for healing, connection, and really found his voice.”

Schwartz expressed gratitude for the platform ArtLifting provides.

“They’ve lifted each of those artists up and given them a platform to, you know, not only express themselves, inspire others, and make an income, which is free. You know, that’s a home run,” he said.

His art is also featured in TAG in Boston.

To reach out to Benny Blindspots to inquire about his art, visit his website.