About MDA
Art Collection
The Muscular Dystrophy Association Art Collection was established in 1992 to highlight the achievements of artists with disabilities and to emphasize that physical disability is no barrier to creativity. The collection, on display in MDA offices across the country, comprises 400 original works by adults and children who have muscular dystrophy, ALS or a related life-threatening disease MDA supports. Artists in the collection represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and range in age from 2 to 84 when the artwork was created.
The MDA Art Collection is one of the most varied collections in America. The versatility attests to the imagination and talent of the artists. The collection features unusual artistic media, from digital designs to collages with corn, to paint applied with wheelchair wheels and human feet. There are also many works in more traditional oils, watercolors, acrylics, pen and ink, crayons, pastels, bronze, ceramics and photography.
Subject matter ranges from self-portraits to landscapes, and from still lifes to outer space fantasies.
In addition to showcasing the work of talented artists who are affected by neuromuscular diseases, MDA's Art Collection allows the artists to articulate their distinctive vision of living with a disability.
The Culture of Disability
The MDA Art Collection illustrates the emergence of artists with a sense of pride in their experiences, including those as people with disabilities. Their work is an important element in, and vehicle for, the unique culture of disability. These works provide kids and adults served by MDA with the opportunity to visually communicate their experiences with neuromuscular disease.
Exhibits
MDA Art Collection exhibits are initiated by either MDA or the host location. All exhibits are underwritten by the participating facility or by corporate/individual sponsors.
Exhibits typically consist of 20 to 40 works and vary in duration from about four to eight weeks. The curator selects the works to be shown at each individual venue. Some exhibits emphasize range and diversity while others have a specific focus (e.g., landscapes, self-portraits, etc.).
Selected art from the collection has been exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art; Cork Gallery at Lincoln Center and The Forbes Collection in New York; Tucson Museum of Art; Bishop Museum in Honolulu; Chicago Public Library; Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art; Los Angeles Children's Museum; JFK Center at Vanderbilt University, Nashville; Fresno Metropolitan Museum; Duluth Art Institute; Capital Children's Museum, Washington, D.C.; the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn, Mich.; and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
To date, the MDA Art Collection has been viewed by more than 3.5 million people nationwide.
Support the Art Collection
The Muscular Dystrophy Association welcomes your support of our Art Collection and our efforts to find research breakthroughs across diseases, care for kids and adults from day one and provide services and support for families in hometowns across America. MDA's programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors and generous organizations. Contributions to MDA are tax deductible.
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Radnor Lake
Jim HenryBecker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)
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White Barn
James JohnsonAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Yellow Flower Number One
Danielle HaradaSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
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2011 Lexus GX-460 Premium
Dhruv PrasadAll Disease
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3 Cottages in Saints-Marie
Haleigh MauriceCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
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4 Pottery Vases
Various ArtistsAll Disease
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5 Masks
Various ArtistsAll Disease
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5 Small Bronzes
Al CareagaCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
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50 Years of Caring
Morgan FritzSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
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A Bird
Jennifer PattisonLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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A Calm Beautiful Autumn Day
Robin SenAll Disease
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A Collection of Albany
Matthew CanfieldCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
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A Forest of Fun
Various ArtistsAll Disease
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A Girl
Kim ChessonFriedreich's Ataxia (FRDA)
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A Night Sky At Sea
Lynda LeValleyMyotonic Dystrophy (DM)
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A Sign of Fall
Jennifer Sovine RosmanCongenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD)
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Abstract Puzzle
Matt GrenierAll Disease
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Acorns
Joann HornbackMyasthenia Gravis (MG)
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African Safari
Norma MargesonAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Aftershocks Highway 17
Diane-Louise ScherFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)
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Ajo Historical Society
Jose CarballoLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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All Around the Neighborhood
Kim HollandFriedreich's Ataxia (FRDA)
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Ambassador Red
Dwain SmithLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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Amusement Park
Andrew CameronBecker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)
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Angel
Blake (Moorman) BurnetteAll Disease
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Apple Pearing
Alexander Amble GravdahlCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
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Aquarius
Melody ClearyCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
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Arizona
Vauta TenneyMyasthenia Gravis (MG)
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Artists Brushes In Sunlight
Howard FeigenbaumFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)
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Aspen Colorado
Ruth BruenLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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At the Barre
Lee BakerMyotonic Dystrophy (DM)
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Autumn
Craig WildermanSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
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Autumn On the Farm
Tod StaskaAll Disease
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Awesome Adventures
Reagan ImhoffSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
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Baby Angel
Benjamin PerezEndocrine Myopathies
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Ballerina II
Thomas NelsonAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Balloon Vendor
Adele FeigenbaumFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)
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Barn in the Meadow
Karen Greene FrazierFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)
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Batman
Geraldo JimenezAll Disease
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Bavarian Reflection
Mario DamianiBecker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)
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Bearing Gifts
Audrey FalkFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)
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Beauty at Sunset
Theresa Baca PocheEndocrine Myopathies
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Bees On Sunflower
Connie PraterMyotonic Dystrophy (DM)
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Big Top Smiles
Mallory PartonLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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Bikes
Sarah SchwegelSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
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Blue Portrait
Melina FatsiouSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
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Blue Spruce
Barbara MisheckLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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Boat with Waterlilies
Christopher CooksonLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
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Boy in Red
Sherry CoeFriedreich's Ataxia (FRDA)
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Boys Weaving
Various ArtistsMetabolic Myopathies
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