Reclaiming Creativity and Independence After Sudden Vision Loss, With Heather Bergerson

Heather Bergerson is a New Mexico-based visual artist and entrepreneur whose work focuses on tactile and accessible art experiences, particularly for blind and visually impaired audiences. After a traumatic brain injury and vision loss in 2020, Heather rebuilt her artistic career and co-founded two businesses — The Meandering Artisan LLC and Sticky Murals — thanks to skills she learned through NSITE coursework, while also exhibiting her large-scale, touchable artworks to enthusiastic audiences. Heather has collaborated with organizations such as the New Mexico Commission for the Blind to empower others with disabilities to pursue entrepreneurship and creative expression. In this episode… Reclaiming creativity and independence after a sudden life-changing event is challenging, especially when faced with the reality of adapting to a new way of living and working. For Heather Bergerson, a visual artist who experienced significant vision loss due to a traumatic accident, this journey was both personal and transformative. In this episode, Heather shares her powerful story of resilience and reinvention. She emphasizes how crucial it was to find support through vocational rehabilitation and mentorship, which helped her reclaim her artistic identity. Heather also discusses how her art practice has evolved, focusing now on larger, tactile pieces that are designed to be accessible, allowing others to engage with her work in ways that were once unimaginable. Heather, an accomplished artist and entrepreneur, reflects on her path to launching Sticky Murals, a business dedicated to creating tactile, reusable murals that blend accessibility with creativity. She shares how community support, determination, and a willingness to explore new artistic avenues have enabled her to not only adapt but thrive in her creative and entrepreneurial pursuits.