Reimagining Accessibility: An Artist’s Journey Through Disability, Identity, and Belonging in Berlin

"With Teethe" Zine Cover

As a newly disabled artist navigating Berlin’s art landscape, I find myself in a transformative stage of my practice. My ongoing recovery from a traumatic brain injury has not only reshaped how I move through the world but has also demanded that I re-examine the role of disability within my art.

For me, artistic research is not simply about making photos or installations—it is about asking urgent questions: How do I integrate my new realities into my work? What does safety and belonging look like in Berlin’s art scene? And how can accessibility be more than a box ticked, but a deeply embodied and liberatory practice? 

I will be exploring these questions and more during my research artist-in-residence program with Air Berlin Alexanderplatz (ABA) from September through December 2025.

Berlin, long considered a hub for experimental, independent, and politically engaged art, offers fertile ground for this exploration. Yet, the experience of disabled artists within this ecosystem remains uneven. While some initiatives gesture toward inclusion, the reality often falls short of what is needed to achieve equitable participation. My work aims to address this gap. I want to investigate what real accessibility looks like in Berlin’s programs, how collectives and institutions support (or fail) disabled artists, and what kinds of infrastructures are necessary for artists like me—BIPOC, queer, foreign, and disabled—to thrive rather than merely survive.

Central to this research is the role of language. Words carry power; they can reinforce marginalisation or open new pathways of empowerment. I am curious about how language—whether in institutional policy, curatorial framing, or community dialogue—shapes perceptions of disability. How can artists reclaim this space to create new vocabularies of belonging, ones that resist stereotypes and foster resilience?

Funding, too, plays a decisive role in determining who gets to tell their story. As part of my residency, I intend to explore the funding capacities available for disability-related arts projects in Berlin and beyond. By examining models of accessibility and inclusion across Europe, I aim to identify strategies that can be effectively translated into a local context. These models are not just about resources; they are about building cultures of care, solidarity, and accountability—values that sit at the heart of my artistic practice.

My motivation is deeply personal. I want to transform the discrimination I have faced in the art world—whether rooted in race, or disability—into creative fuel. This transformation is not only for me but also for others navigating similar experiences. Through collaboration with artist collectives, community engagement, and the sharing of knowledge, I hope to understand what is possible for disabled artists to feel both seen and supported.

The action items guiding this inquiry are as much about connection as they are about research. My focus includes identifying Berlin-based collectives and organizations that support disabled artists, while also exploring how accessibility and inclusion are implemented within arts programs. I am interested in investigating funding opportunities specific to disability and the arts, as well as learning from international examples of best practices. Equally important is transforming experiences of discrimination and the practice of accessibility into my individual artistic expression, and building supportive networks that not only sustain myself but also enable broader societal change.

Ultimately, my journey in Berlin is not just about adapting to my disability—it is about envisioning new ways of working that center care, access, and collective empowerment. In doing so, I hope to contribute to a cultural ecosystem where disabled artists are not an afterthought but vital voices shaping the future of art.