Award Winning Visually Impaired Artist

Self proclaims "Inspirational Blind Artist", Michael A. Williams (born March 1964) is the son of artist Mattie L. Williams and the oldest of 10 children. Mr. Williams as a teenager he was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease (also known as fundus flavimaculatus) is a type of macular degeneration that typically surfaces before the age of 20. Has been sight impaired since birth and started drawing and painting at the age of 10. Mr. Williams took interest in art when he saw his mother do a sketch of a cowboy riding off toward the sunset and decided to pursue and harvest his ability to create. He remember starting off drawing cars and trucks and later aviation and then onto architecture. Mr. Williams would continue to advance in his art by teaching himself perspective and later painting. It was known by a few individuals that Mr. Williams had found his calling in life and that was to become an artist while in high school, During the 80s, Mr. Williams would go on to win an architectural design contest in Memphis by the Southland Mall Scholastic Art Competition, the Mid South Fair pen and Ink Art Competition and the St Joseph Hospital Calendar Contest. M. Williams would later win an award for "Out- standing Art Student". As time moved on., Mr. Williams would become a self published artist and putting out a number of had painting limited edition prints focusing on Memphis landmark and river scenes from 1984 to 1987 and later put out new prints beginning 2007 and onward. Artist Michael A. Williams has been featured in numerous newspapers and on televisions such as Shelby State Community College, Cable television 18, Tri-State Defender Memphis, Janice Miles" Positivity San Antonio" and My Fox Memphis 2009. In 2009, artist Michael A. Williams would join an art

competition for the first time in Louisville Kentucky called the "Insight Art Competition for Blind and Visually Impaired Artist: hosted by the American Printing House for the Blind" where he placed out of 400 entries for entering "Evening Tow" and in 2011 he would place 2nd for entering "Bountiful Tow". In 2012, he would enter painting "Sanctuary 2011" dedicated to his step father who passed in fall of 2010 due to lung cancer. The painting didn't win any placement, but, would still be featured in the art exhibition by the American Printing House for the Blind. Mr. Williams credits GOD for his talent and gives thanks to this mother for opening his heart toward art. He now resides in Memphis Tennessee and starting a new project by producing a series of oil paintings. Mr. Williams' favorite subjects involve automobiles, cityscapes, street scenes, transportation and space. Mr. Williams also hopes to open a series of art galleries worldwide to feature works of his mother and himself.

Mr. Williams is also the founder of a new non profit organization called the International Association for Sight Impaired Artists. He stated the organization was created to encourage individuals who are blind or visually impaired to get involved in the visual or performance arts directly or indirectly.

Artist website: http://www.uniquewanders.com

IASIA http://www.iasia-global.org