About Us

At the Vision & Art Project, we explore the profound influence vision loss due to macular degeneration has had on both historical and contemporary art and artists.

Two paintings by the artist Georgia O'Keeffe, the first of which is image of a large white iris rendered in pale warm off white and yellow hues with a chromatic yellow stamen in the center of the canvas; the second image is an abstract watercolor composition of a crescent moon shape cradling a sphere with the entire image rendered in a wash of pale blue — First image: Georgia OKeeffe, “White Iris No. 7” (1957), oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches. © 2021 Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Second image: Georgia OKeeffe, “Like an Early Blue Abstraction” (1976-77), watercolor on paper, 29.8 x 22.5 inches. © 2021 Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

About macular degeneration and art

By the age of 75, about 3 in 10 artists will experience significant vision loss due to macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. Among many others, for instance, such notable figures as Georgia O’Keeffe and Edgar Degas developed the disease and adapted their working methods in ways that allowed them to continue creating art. While most common in people 60 years of age and older, on rare occasions, it also affects younger adults and children in a form known as Stargardt disease.

At the Vision & Art Project, we delve into the experiences of exceptional artists with macular degeneration to explore their work and adaptations to vision loss in depth. This helps to ensure the legacy of individual artists at what can be a challenging time in their lives, sheds light on a hidden side of art history, and inspires a deeper respect for our profound capacity as humans to adapt and change.

Our Mission People / Contact Us Select News Featuring Our Work Projects of the V&AP Publications The American Macular Degeneration Foundation