The one-of-a-kind Pure Vision Arts Studio (PVA) studio in Chelsea is New York’s first and only full-time art studio and exhibition space for adults with autism spectrum disorders and other neuro-developmental and physical challenges. PVA helps talented artists with developmental disabilities overcome practical, emotional, and social barriers to practicing, perfecting, and marketing their art.  We help artists employ their greatest strengths to help them function more effectively in the community. 

Roy Gabbay (1991) is a Queens-born artist living in Forest Hills, whose highly detailed mixed media on wood art is influenced by psychedelia, surrealism, and his love of heavy metal and progressive rock.  Roy is also a musician, poet, and photographer who recently shifted his focus to pursue the visual arts with full intensity.  Roy explores themes of spirituality and ontology with a focus on depicting individuals and society prevailing over the darker elements of the human condition.   His work has been exhibited at Outsider Art Fair, The Mayor’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities; Art Enables; Bell-ans Center; Sheen Center for Thought & Culture; Autism Museum; Pure Vision Arts, and others.

Oscar Azmitia (1978) was raised in New York and Puerto Rico.   His themes and techniques are exceptionally imaginative and diverse.  He works with found materials including wood frames, coins, vinyl albums, VHS cassettes, and obsolete routers.  His themes are both whimsical and profound, seamlessly weaving together narratives and ontology from scripture, history, and pop culture of this world and of  parallel universes. His work has been exhibited at Outsider Art Fair; Art Enables; American Folk Art Museum; NY Transit Museum; The Autism Museum; Brattleboro Museum & Art Center; International Center for People with Disabilities in Japan; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

William Britt (1935) is an accomplished and internationally recognized self-taught artist with developmental disability.  He was sent to the infamous Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York as a child, where he remained for 34 years.  A frustrated young boy, Britt was given paints by his doctor and encouraged to express himself.   His masterful, intricately detailed paintings in the folk art tradition have garnered Britt several awards, including a Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Award in 1986 for Outstanding Artistic Achievement.  During the presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Maya Angelou read her poem, “William Britt” to honor William’s contribution and experiences.  

Susan Brown (1957) in Copiague, New York work depicts her childhood memories of growing up on Long Island’s South Shore, her fascination with Manhattan, and, her signature, gridded pictures of her mother.  When asked about paintings of her mother, Susan remembers the exact date she wore each dress or blouse and the history of the garment represented. She grew up in house where the record player was always running - her lyrical brush stroke is influenced by the jazz and rock’n’roll she listens to while she works at the studio. Her work has been exhibited at The Mayor’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities; Art Enables; Outsider Art Fair; Musée de la Création Franche; Google Headquarters; Museum of Modern Art; Sheen Center; Autism Museum; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

Chase Ferguson (1988) is a Brooklyn-born artist and sculptor with a lifelong passion for transportation-themed art. Using his ingenuity, dexterity, and gifted memory for detail, Chase creates his sculptures of cars, buses, and trains with a unique methodology that he continues to hone. Chase is an equally skilled painter, celebrating African American style and history working with mixed media on paper. In 2013, the New York Transit Museum acquired one of Chase’s train sculptures for their permanent collection. His work has been exhibited at The Mayor’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities; Outsider Art Fair; Autism Museum; Museum of Modern Art; The Curator Gallery; Art Enables; NY Transit Museum; American Folk Art Museum; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

Elisa Huberman (1989) is a Bronx-born artist who lives on City Island with her family.  A prolific artist, she draws, paints, makes sculptural figures and creates elaborate dioramas.  Much of Elisa’s inspiration comes from her fondness of real and mythical animals.  Elisa is also a writer and illustrator of children’s books; The Odd Duckling describes her own personal experiences being a child with autism.  Elisa has given numerous readings of her book to enthusiastic audiences, and created an animated short film, bringing the book to life. Her work has been exhibited at Rockland Center for the Arts; Felicity House; Metropolitan West; Brattleboro Museum & Art Center; Art Enables; Museum of Modern Art; Cloud Gallery; Google Global Headquarters; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

Simone Johnson (1971) lives in Staten Island with her brother and sister-in-law.  Her whimsical and imaginative art depicts brightly colored everyday objects and scenes of animals, particularly “New York Bodega Cats.”  In addition to being an artist, Simone is a belly dancer who performs with a dance company in Manhattan. The New York Daily News wrote an article about her life entitled “Special Young Artist Dances Past Autism.” Simone has developed a following of bodega cat lovers, especially on Instagram, where posts of her new works immediately draw hundreds of “likes” from fans including well known artists and illustrators. Her work has been exhibited at The Mayor’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities; Art Enables; Outsider Art Fair; SPeerpunt de Kunst Museum; NY Transit Museum; Columbia University; American Folk Art Museum; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

Leon McCutcheon (born in 1959) is a lifelong Manhattanite. His parents, a jazz musician and a milliner, exposed him to the arts from an early age. Fashion and music figure prominently in his work, which is also influenced by memories of family visits to South Carolina. A political activist and advocate, McCutcheon has emerged as a spokesperson on disability issues and has made speaking appearances including WNYC’s Leonard Lopate radio show. The folk-like quality of his work attracts the attention of curators and collectors interested in contemporary American folk art.  His work has been exhibited at The Mayor’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities; Art Enables; American Folk Art Museum; La Esquina; Metropolitan West; Puck Building; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

Walter Mika (1961) has attended Pure Vision Arts since its opening in 2002. Known for his energetic and primitive use of line, color and form, his figurative drawings reflect an interest in cartoons, movies, and other aspects of popular culture. Walter is a man with Down Syndrome whose strongest desire has been to create art. Walter’s personality, like his art, is colorful and wonderfully uninhibited. His freedom of expression and ability to be open, trusting and joyful is delightful and this purity, innocence and love of life are reflected in his drawings. Walter’s work has garnered media attention and acclaim for its unique quality and simplistic beauty. His drawings have been included in many exhibitions at Pure Vision Arts and other venues including The Outsider Art Fair, Marlborough Gallery and Van der Plas Gallery in New York City, Gallerie BelAge in the Hamptons, the European Outsider Art Fair in Austria and Gallerie Olof in The Netherlands. His work has also been featured in publications like Arts and Antiques and Envision Magazine and is included in many private collections.

Armando Nuñez (1996) is a native New Yorker and a Pure Vision Arts artist since 2016, steadily building a body of work for exhibition based on his love of travel, landscapes, and architecture. Some of his paintings depict cities he has visited with his family on vacation and photographed. Other paintings reflect destinations he desires to visit in the future. Using mainly acrylic paints and sometimes other materials on large board and canvas, his work reflects a keen attention to form, detail, and color. Armando is on the Autism Spectrum.

Eric Sadowsky (1991) is a Brooklyn-born artist who utilizes art to communicate thoughts and feelings where language falls short. His drawings reference imagery including his favorite comfort foods, animals, musical instruments, hotels, and news anchors filtered through his expressive imagination. Eric's drawings have a distinctive, graphic, Pop Art quality to them, and his signature color palette of neon and pastel adds a unique and vibrant touch to his work. His work has been exhibited at SAGE Studio; Art Enables; The Autism Museum; Outsider Art Fair;  Holland Tunnel Gallery; NY Transit Museum; Rockland Center for the Arts; Pure Vision Arts; and others.

Dennis Yee (1989) is a lifelong New Yorker living in Brooklyn. Dennis has studied advanced art techniques at Kingsborough College. Dennis’ art typically features detailed depictions of iconic landscapes, New York landmarks, and train stations, mashed up” with magical colors and vibrant elements of his own imagination. These are often inspired by his fascination with anime and science fiction. His work has been exhibited at Google Global Headquarters; Bell-ans Center; Outsider Art Fair; Autism Museum; Art Enables; Rockland Center for the Arts; Pure Vision Arts; and others. 

Pure Vision Arts

144-61 Roosevelt Avenue
Flushing NY 11354
212-366-4263 x4222
ccollado@shield.org
pure-vision-arts.square.site

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