TOTAL Art Licensing
Ketra Oberlander and
the art of possibilities..
Being blind is no obstacle to
creating beautiful art
glasses” one can imagine a world of soft focus, most artists build their careers at the local and
washed out color and no hard edges in which regional levels they’re hauling work between
Oberlander finds herself. and among exhibition spaces. “What was I going
Best known for her conceptual work in market- to do? Bundle everything up and take the bus?”
ing communications, print and web publishing, Oberlander observed. She continues, “I needed
Oberlander found her employment prospects to solve this logistics problem and then realized
diminishing along with her declining vision. “Of- that other artists with disabilities faced the ex-
fers were far too junior for me once I started act same obstacle. If I solved it for me, I’d solve
using a white cane to navigate the world,” she it for all of us.”
confided, “and I’m not interested in spending Oberlander began investigating art licensing. “As
my time triumphing over someone else’s idea of a former writer, the area of art licensing made
what my limitations are.” perfect sense to me. When I first started free-
Stuck at home, blind and bored, Oberlander en- lancing I used to see shampoo bottles and think
rolled in her nearby adult education program, ‘shampoo, rinse, repeat’ – a writer got paid for
The Art of Possibility Studios is the only art
taking classes in water aerobics and painting for that.” As an artist, I began to notice the plethora
publishing and licensing agency exclusively rep-
fun solely because she could walk to class. At of licensed art on our products and thought,
resenting physically disabled artists. Founded by
forty she picked up a paint brush. It changed her ‘next season they’ll need all new pictures.’ Still,
Ketra Oberlander, the Art of Possibility Studios
life. Instantly loving the process and the visual with no industry experience, she was cautious.
locates and develops art and artists with the
means of self-expression, Oberlander spent two Having always worked in the language of ideas
unique mission of sharing their work and stories
years enjoying painting as a hobby. Because her rather than the tangible world of consumer
with others to uplift and encourage people re-
work received positive responses from friends goods she knew she needed to do her home-
gardless of their circumstances. Art of Possibil-
and acquaintances Oberlander decided to “go work. After seeking representation and talk-
ity Studios provides imagery for luxury giftware
pro” in 2005. ing to a number of art licensing agencies, last
and via license for select manufacturers inter-
As she began showing and selling fine art Ober- autumn Oberlander decided to represent her
ested in socially conscious and cause-oriented
lander met with immediate acceptance of her work and that of other physically disabled art-
product lines.
work. Quickly winning a handful of peer and ists and founded the Art of Possibility Studios,
“I couldn’t envision myself sitting around receiv-
juried awards she found her paintings uplifted an art licensing agency and brand designed to
ing disability benefits,” mused artist Ketra Ober-
and connected to others on an emotional level. change the world. At least for a group of artists
lander. “I’m far too overcaffeinated for that!” she
“Ketra’s paintings express the best quality an who could really use it. “AOP Studios allows
laughed, sipping coffee. Tall, funny, overcaffeinated
artist can hope to possess; she paints fearlessly
– all adjectives that come before “blind” to any-
from her heart, incorporating her own unique
one who has met Oberlander, but after a rare
perspective, making her world truly accessible
genetic condition caused her sight to deterio-
to the viewer,” observed Jen Norton, a fellow
rate in her late thirties, Oberlander joined the
Silicon Valley artist whose work is represented
1.3 million Americans who are legally blind.
by Painted Planet.
“Legal blindness is a little bit like being legally
Contributing paintings to communicate a mes-
married; you either are or you aren’t” explains
sage of hope, Oberlander twice had work on
Oberlander. Only ten percent of all blind peo-
ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
ple are totally blind, seeing nothing. The ninety
and was
percent who fit the definition of blindness have
juried into a number of national shows. Despite
a variety of vision loss that can’t be corrected.
the popular acceptance of her work, Ober-
“We are the people for whom medicine has
lander faced constant obstacles in the logistics
failed,” she explains. Describing her sight as
of getting original work in front of patrons. As
“like staring in the sun with shortening on your
50
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