Amy Monthei

Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1972 with congenital cataracts, her lenses were removed when she was a few months old, leaving her legally blind. Her parents, who are also legally blind and artists, saw great promise in Amy’s creative endeavors very early on and encouraged her with great enthusiasm. “Blindness is an inconvenience, not a tragedy”, this lesson was imparted to Amy by her parents every day growing up. They taught her to believe that when an individual is disabled in one area of their existence they are not necessarily left at a considerable disadvantage; that having a disability should never be perceived as being inadequate.

She graduated with Honors from Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art. Amy moved to Minnesota in 1996, working in the fine art and custom framing industry. She has always been very determined to pursue a career in the arts and until recently, she enjoyed working as a Merchandising Manager for one of Minneapolis; top art consulting firms. In mid 2006 Amy was diagnosed with early onset open-angle glaucoma and often struggles to keep her sight and to paint as long as possible.

She lives a life filled with Irony as a blind visual artist, ...

BFA in Visual Art - Grand View University

Group Exhibitions

2017 Boundaries Art Show
William S. Richardson Law Library at University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, HI

2016 Social Justice Art Show
William S. Richardson Law Library at University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, HI

2014 –15 Shared Visions Art Exhibit
Marshall B. Ketchum University at the University Eye Care Center, Fullerton CA

2013 –14 Shared Visions Art Exhibit
Marshall B. Ketchum University at the University Eye Care Center, Fullerton CA

2012 –13 Shared Visions Art Exhibit
Marshall B. Ketchum University at the University Eye Care Center, Fullerton CA

2011 –12 Shared Visions Art Exhibit
Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton CA

2009 –10 Shared Visions Art Exhibit
Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton CA

2009 Insights 2009
San Francisco Art Commission Gallery at City Hall, San Francisco, CA

2008 Summer Employee Art Show / Art Holdings, Minneapolis MN

2006 Spring Employee Art Show / Art Holdings, Minneapolis MN

Solo Exhibitions

2016-17 Donor Wall Sight Savers America “Hero for Sight Award”,
Callahan Eye Hospital, Birmingham, AL
2011 R H Stafford Library, Woodbury, MN
2010 Atmospheres / Vision Loss Resources, Minneapolis, MN