Questioning Biography: Personal History, Content, and Aesthetics in Art

Is knowing an artist’s biography pivotal to understanding her or his work? Tom di Maria, executive director of Creative Growth, leads a discussion about the role of biography, culture, and disability in art-making. As head of the first independent visual arts center for adults with developmental, physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, he questions the labels used for trained versus “outsider” artists, and recognizes that artists with disabilities often straddle both worlds while making artwork that is increasingly recognized and appreciated.