Christopher Williams

My Story

I was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, an underdeveloped and unexpectedly, as the "triple bonus" in a set of triplets. Everyone thought my mother was expecting two children, not three. The fact that I survived remains a mystery, but I chose early on to believe that there was a reason for it.

Since childhood, I’ve lived in a borderland, between life and death, between ability and disability, between action and paralysis. My epilepsy, caused by a benign tumor in the left hemisphere of my brain, governs this in-between state. Throughout my life, my brain injury and epilepsy have both closed and opened borders seamlessly.

As a child, I spent almost as much time in hospitals as I did at home. I was often told I wouldn’t live past 40. But I have passed that threshold despite countless severe seizures, surgeries, and strong medications. Many doctors have said I’ve surpassed what is considered medically possible for someone with my condition. Based on the severity of my brain injury, I should not be able to speak or move normally.

My family, my mother, father, older sister, and fellow triplets, each coped with my illness in their own way: denial, hope, despair, anxiety, and panic. School was more torture than education. I had trouble focusing, missed many classes, and was constantly bulliedboth physically and emotionally.

Then I discovered art and everything changed. It became my refuge from the constant fear of the next seizure, from its unpredictability and intensity. Through creation, I crossed the border into a world where I was no longer confined by my illness.

Creative expression hasn’t cured me, but it has given my life meaning and purpose. When I enter the world of art, I can momentarily forget my daily battle with epilepsy and the isolation and discrimination that often come with it. In that space, I find calm filled with inner imagery and the works I bring to life on the canvas.

While epilepsy has prevented me from pursuing certain paths like having to leave my role as an illustrator for Disney World in Florida I’ve always found strength in art. I've also had the privilege of helping others with similar challenges through creative therapies. In addition to my art education, I hold a degree in Creative Arts Therapy, a recognized form of psychotherapy in the United States.

Thinking of the many individuals I’ve worked with over the years, I feel grateful to have helped improve their lives through creativity. Some of them had never been able to express themselves through speech or writing, but through art, they crossed the border into communication with the world. Many of them are no longer with us today. Some who are still here are alive because I personally helped them through severe seizures. Epilepsy is physically exhausting.

In my artwork, I try to explore and portray the concept of borders. I want to visualize the borderland I inhabit. It’s a space full of bold colors and patterns a kind of chaos that is both sharp and blurry at the same time. In the midst of all that is vulnerable and unpredictable, there is also beauty. I often depict animals in my work, as they reflect what I feel is important in life. They remind us of the fragility of existence of the need for harmony, acceptance, and a deep awareness that nothing should be taken for granted in a world where borders can be crossed without warning.