Brian Steel
Brian Charles Steel is a photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia, known for his lyrical and sympathetic portrayals of individuals with disabilities. He was diagnosed as an infant with a rare muscle disorder that left him handicapped, inspiring him to create art that belies his condition. Steel's photographs have been featured on CNN and exhibited at galleries in Atlanta and elsewhere.[1]
Early life
Shortly after he was born, Steel was diagnosed with congenital fiber-type disproportion (also called short fiber syndrome). According to the National Institutes of Health, people with this condition experience muscle weakness, usually in the upper body, hips and thighs, and may have breathing problems.[2] Because he was told he was "handicapped" as a child and treated differently by school officials and other students, Steel grew up feeling judged unfairly because of the way his body worked.
Work
Steel has worked as a professional photographer since 2009. He has won numerous awards and his portraits have been exhibited in Mason Murer Fine Art, the Jennifer Schwartz Gallery, and the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the Kiernan Gallery in Lexington, Virginia.
References
- ↑ Wilson, Jacque, “'Impaired Perceptions': Photographer rejects first impressions”, CNN.com, January 25, 2013.
- ↑ NIH.gov, "Congenital fiber-type disproportion".