Blind Art Gallery

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.01 Ahmet Ustunel


My fascination with creating forms out of different materials started at a very early age. When I was 3 or 4 I began to pull the caulk from the windows of our house in Turkey, so that I could make animal figures. Eventually, someone noticed the missing caulk, and as a result, I became the only suspect. The mystery was solved when my parents found my artwork, which they thought was cute. To prevent me from stealing more caulk, they bought me a fresh ball of caulk from a window repair shop nearby.
I have never thought that Blindness is an obstacle to getting involved with art. On the contrary, I believe it helps me to be more creative. Over the last 25 years, my artwork has been showcased in exhibitions in Turkey, Poland, and the United States. Additionally, I have curated touch art shows to emphasize the tactile aspect of ceramics. Presently, my artistic practice encompasses the creation of both wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery pieces, along with the crafting of functional and decorative sculptures.

.02 Services

Accessibility Consulting

As an educator, artist, and Blind individual, I strongly believe that art should be accessible to everyone. My hope is that I can assist galleries, art studios, and museums in becoming welcoming places where disabled artists contribute their perspective to the art community. One of the biggest obstacles I face in creating my work is finding an accessible studio space where people don’t treat me differently. Hearing the phrase "Please, don't touch the art" repeatedly didn’t diminish my love for art. However, the discriminatory attitudes of some instructors at studios I attended almost did. Some instructors didn’t believe a Blind person could work independently in the studio, let alone create or appreciate art. That's why I am offering accessibility consulting to art organizations, aiming to foster a more inclusive art community.

Art Lessons

In addition to being an artist, I am also a teacher for the visually impaired. I had the opportunity to co-teach the first summer art school for Blind students at SFUSD. I have also worked as an art instructor at Enchanted Hills, a summer camp for the Blind, as well as at A Reason to Survive, a nonprofit organization in San Diego. Art education benefits Blind students in the same way it benefits their sighted peers. Through art education, every student’s creativity, critical thinking and language skills can be improved. Engaging in artistic activities enhances sensory awareness, dexterity, ability to use tools and manipulate different materials, self-confidence, and self-awareness. I am excited to provide accessible art lessons for individuals, small groups, and organizations seeking inclusive art instruction for all ages and skill levels. If you are interested, please feel free to reach out and contact me.

Commission Your One-of-a-Kind Piece

As a Blind ceramic artist, when creating art, my main focus is emphasizing the importance of the sense of touch. To achieve this, I use various texturing techniques along with interesting forms. My work includes a variety of objects, some functional, such as mugs decorated with Braille words, bowls, or sculptural teapots, while others are purely decorative, like masks and small sculptures. I am open to creating commissioned pieces. If you're interested in acquiring one of my original works, please feel free to explore my collection.

Discover my functional sculptures and unique decorative masks — Contact me to purchase artwork.

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.04 Contact me

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