A Brief History of NEBA

National Exhibits by Blind Artists, Inc., is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to showing the work of blind artists.

National Exhibits by Blind Artists was founded in Philadelphia in the belief that talented blind artists deserve the same recognition as writers, musicians and other sighted artists. The primary objectives are to educate the public with the quality of work by blind artists and to create a demand in the professional field of art, furthering the careers of blind artists and making them part of the mainstream of life.

Several blind artists who frequented Philadelphia's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped enlisted the help of Michael Coyle, Library Director, who organized a pilot show in the summer of 1975. The show at the Library was a great success, and many works of art were sold. Encouraged by their success, it was decided to build upon the foundation of this show.

In 1976, under the leadership of Mrs. Hester Pepper, the founding president, and Michael Coyle, National Exhibits by Blind Artists was incorporated. With the support of the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, the first show was assembled and presented in both the Museum's Nevil Gallery and the Library for the Blind. Nearly sixty thousand people visited this exhibit, created as a Bicentennial Project. The newly established enterprise was provided an office at the University Museum where two subsequent exhibits in 1977 and 1978 were mounted, again rotating the artwork with the Library for the Blind. The exhibits met with enthusiastic public support.

Since its founding, many exhibitions of outstanding works of art have been presented in prominent museums and galleries in the United States and abroad.
This pioneer concept -- art by the blind -- has produced an enlightened forum for developing projects with similar intent. With its 30-year history of major shows, National Exhibits of Blind Artists has blazed the trail, winning wide recognition in the art world with its promise to continue carrying its message of bright, new prospects for the blind artist.

Focus on Art and Vision
Art Beyond Sight

National Exhibits by Blind Artists presents the 2004-2005 exhibition of work by artists who are legally blind. For over thirty years NEBA has offered the public the opportunity to view not only intriguing works of work, but works of the human spirit as well. Blind artists bring to their work a unique interpretation of the world.

Street Thoma, Coordinator, Accessible Programs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, works in collaboration with the Board of National Exhibits by Blind Artists, Inc. He is the curator for the exhibit. His creative talents designed and balanced this presentation to highlight each art form.