10 artists with disability have joined forces to present a fully accessible online art exhibition which explores how the extraordinary and turbulent events of 2021 have affected them as both artists and people living with disability.

Launching today and simply titled 2021, the exhibition is a 100% disability-led initiative that features the work of a diverse range of artists with disability from across NSW: www.2021exhibition.art

The exhibition has been launched to coincide with Arts Activated 2021, one of Australia’s leading arts and disability conferences: www.artsactivated2021.com

I’m Still Here (2021) | Will Hazzard | Acrylic on Canvas

Designed to be fully accessible for anyone regardless of ability, the exhibition has also been curated and produced by artists who live with disability. The initiative is being supported by Accessible Arts – NSW’s peak arts and disability organisation – with funding from Create NSW’s Arts Restart program. Accessible Arts is also the producer of Arts Activated 2021.

The exhibition – which follows a similar imitative from last year – includes a selection of 22 paintings and artworks created specifically for the exhibition by the 10 participating artists: Asphyxia, Clover Pallier, Robert Duffield, Jeremy Hawkes, M. Sunflower, Ian Hazzard, Will Hazzard, Jessica Phippen, Wart Burg and Sigrid Macdonald. The artists have been drawn from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds including dDeaf, intellectually disabled, First Nations, LGBTQI+ and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

All artworks and images are audio or text described for people with vision impairment and the exhibition website boasts a range of other features which makes the content accessible for people with disabilities such as high contrast design and text size toggling.

2021 Exhibition Project Manager Allison Reynolds: “This new exhibition is a sequel to last year’s 2020 exhibition which was also supported by Accessible Arts as way to connect and showcase artists with disability during the pandemic. Well a year later the pandemic is still here and impacting on the lives and livelihoods of artists with disability. The artists featured in this new exhibition are once again using the opportunity to interpret through their art how the pandemic has impacted on their lives and their creativity.”

Accessible Arts Interim CEO Morwenna Collett: “Congratulations to all the artists for creating a diverse range of engaging artworks which explore important contemporary experiences. We’re delighted to have facilitated such a worthwhile and productive experience for all the participants not just in terms of creating accessible art but also by providing an opportunity for new professional connections and collaborations during this difficult time for the arts and cultural sector.”

All artworks featured in the exhibition are available for purchase. All artworks, together with artist biographies and creative statements, can be accessed via the 2021 exhibition website: www.2021exhibition.art

ENDS

Contact: Michael Badorrek | Marketing & Development Manager | +61 0431 594 007 | marketing@aarts.net.au

Social Media Post: 10 artists with disability have joined forces to frame their experience of 2021 with a new fully accessible online art exhibition simply titled ‘2021’. The exhibition includes a selection of 22 paintings and artworks created specifically for the exhibition by Asphyxia, Clover Pallier, Robert Duffield, Jeremy Hawkes, M. Sunflower, Ian Hazzard, Will Hazzard, Jessica Phippen, Wart Burg and Sigrid Macdonald. The exhibition is part of Arts Activated 2021, one of Australia’s leading arts and disability forums. www.2021exhibition.art #2021 #2021Exhibition #OnlineArtExhibition #Arts #Disability #AccessibleArts

Image Description: A compilation of 10 headshots of people of various ages, genders and cultural backgrounds. | A painting of a defeathered cockatoo with a disposable medical mask hanging from its beak.