About MDA

Fighting every day to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harmful effects of muscle-debilitating diseases so they can live longer and grow stronger

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.

 

  • Radnor Lake

    Jim HenryBecker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)

  • White Barn

    James JohnsonAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  • Yellow Flower Number One

    Danielle HaradaSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • 2011 Lexus GX-460 Premium

    Dhruv PrasadAll Disease

  • 3 Cottages in Saints-Marie

    Haleigh MauriceCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)

  • 4 Pottery Vases

    Various ArtistsAll Disease

  • 5 Masks

    Various ArtistsAll Disease

  • 5 Small Bronzes

    Al CareagaCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)

  • 50 Years of Caring

    Morgan FritzSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • A Bird

    Jennifer PattisonLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • A Calm Beautiful Autumn Day

    Robin SenAll Disease

  • A Collection of Albany

    Matthew CanfieldCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)

  • A Forest of Fun

    Various ArtistsAll Disease

  • A Girl

    Kim ChessonFriedreich's Ataxia (FA)

  • A Night Sky At Sea

    Lynda LeValleyMyotonic Dystrophy (DM)

  • A Sign of Fall

    Jennifer Sovine RosmanCongenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD)

  • Abstract Puzzle

    Matt GrenierAll Disease

  • Acorns

    Joann HornbackMyasthenia Gravis (MG)

  • African Safari

    Norma MargesonAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  • Aftershocks Highway 17

    Diane-Louise ScherFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)

  • Ajo Historical Society

    Jose CarballoLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • All Around the Neighborhood

    Kim HollandFriedreich's Ataxia (FA)

  • Ambassador Red

    Dwain SmithLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • Amusement Park

    Andrew CameronBecker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)

  • Angel

    Blake (Moorman) BurnetteAll Disease

  • Apple Pearing

    Alexander Amble GravdahlCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)

  • Aquarius

    Melody ClearyCharcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)

  • Arizona

    Vauta TenneyMyasthenia Gravis (MG)

  • Artists Brushes In Sunlight

    Howard FeigenbaumFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)

  • Aspen Colorado

    Ruth BruenLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • At the Barre

    Lee BakerMyotonic Dystrophy (DM)

  • Autumn

    Craig WildermanSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • Autumn On the Farm

    Tod StaskaAll Disease

  • Awesome Adventures

    Reagan ImhoffSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • Baby Angel

    Benjamin PerezEndocrine Myopathies

  • Ballerina II

    Thomas NelsonAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  • Balloon Vendor

    Adele FeigenbaumFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)

  • Barn in the Meadow

    Karen Greene FrazierFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)

  • Batman

    Geraldo JimenezAll Disease

  • Bavarian Reflection

    Mario DamianiBecker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)

  • Bearing Gifts

    Audrey FalkFacioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH, FSHD)

  • Beauty at Sunset

    Theresa Baca PocheEndocrine Myopathies

  • Bees On Sunflower

    Connie PraterMyotonic Dystrophy (DM)

  • Big Top Smiles

    Mallory PartonLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • Bikes

    Sarah SchwegelSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • Blue Portrait

    Melina FatsiouSpinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

  • Blue Spruce

    Barbara MisheckLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • Boat with Waterlilies

    Christopher CooksonLimb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)

  • Boy in Red

    Sherry CoeFriedreich's Ataxia (FA)

  • Boys Weaving

    Various ArtistsMetabolic Myopathies

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