John Bramblitt

Biography

John Bramblitt is a painter who lost his sight due to complications with epilipsy and lymes disease. Despite his visual impairment, he has become a successful artist known internationally for his vibrant, expressive paintings. He initially struggled to come to terms with his visual impairment and turned to art as a way to cope and reconnect with the visual world. He taught himself how to paint by relying on his other senses, such as touch and hearing, to guide him across the canvas. The techniques he developed he now shares with museums and organizations all over the country.

Bramblitt’s paintings are characterized by their bright colors and bold brushstrokes, and often feature themes of hope, resilience, and the human experience. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the art world such as three presidential service awards and most inspiring YouTube video. He has worked with various celebrities to raise money and disability awareness as well as partnering with Delta to paint a Boeing 737. He was recently named a Cultural Ambassador to the US. Not only is Bramblitt a recognized painter but he is the first blind muralist having done projects in NY, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

He is also an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity in the arts, and has been recognized for his efforts to raise awareness about the challenges and triumphs of people with disabilities. He has shared his story with audiences around the world for the past ten years, energizing organizations and motivating people to exceed their limits. Bramblitt’s unique journey from the dark has enabled him to connect with a visual world and act as a beacon for others experiencing struggles.

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Testimonials

John’s three day residency in Oklahoma for NewView Oklahoma was a tremendous success! The weekend he was with us included several workshops, a lecture demo and an appearance at a fundraiser where he delighted audiences as he created an original painting for auction. Throughout the weekend, it was apparent that John is tremendously gifted in not only his ability to create amazing artworks, but also his ability to share his inspirational story of hope and independence with sighted and nonsighted audiences alike. While John’s artwork is truly phenomenal, John is equally talented in his ability to communicate honestly and with humor the challenges of coping with his blindness and the role art has played in his ability to overcome those challenges. As a tremendous advocate for people who are blind, John’s first concern is always how he can help blind serving organizations like NewView Oklahoma be more successful in their missions to serve the visually impaired. As a fine artist, advocate for the blind and inspirational speaker, John is one of a kind!

– Sandy Wright, Foundations and Grants Director, NewView Oklahoma

Each year, Sight Savers America (SSA) commissions a piece of artwork from an artist with severe visual impairment to commemorate our annual Hero For Sight event. We were honored to select John Bramblitt as our Sight Savers America Hero For Sight Artist for 2019. John has an incredibly powerful story and he is able to overcome his own visual impairment to create spectacular artwork. The painting that John created for us is simply extraordinary and it was our pleasure to have John, his wife (Jacqi), and his guide dog (Eagle) join us for our 6th Annual SSA Hero For Sight luncheon. John spoke eloquently about his own personal story and how he is passionate about working with children and being a role model for children with severe visual impairment. John has a heart for service and he is an inspiration. We are proud that his artwork will now hang for one year on Sight Savers America’s 25-foot Tribute Wall at the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama for thousands of people to enjoy!

– Jeff Haddox, Founder/President & CEO, Sight Savers America