Indianapolis artist wins regional award for disabled creators, ‘through my artwork, I can do anything’

Inside Johnson Simon’s studio at the Harrison Center in downtown Indianapolis, dozens of vibrant colored paintings line the walls.

But for Simon, art isn’t just about creative expression – it’s motion.

“As I'm painting, I feel that movement,” he said. “It’s almost like an out-of-body experience. I can dance. I can play football. I can play basketball. I might be physically bound, but through my artwork, I can do anything.”

The 35-year-old artist lives with cerebral palsy, a lifelong group of neurological disorders that affect a person's ability to move. But Simon sees his disability as a lens for creativity, not a limitation.

Now, he is being recognized for his talent as a recipient of the 2025 Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities.

“Their work shows just how expansive Midwestern creativity is, and the powerful role disabled artists play in shaping the arts,” said John Kaiser, Arts Midwest grants manager.

Simon is one of this year’s nine awardees, chosen from more than 400 submissions across the region and the only award recipient in Indiana. Each awardee received $3,000 to support future artistic projects.

He said he is “honored to represent the city of Indianapolis,” especially as a disability advocate.

Born in Haiti, Simon moved to the U.S. at age 5. Shortly after his arrival he discovered his love for art. During a physical therapy session his therapist handed him a pencil and asked him to draw.

“When I discovered I had the God-given gift of drawing, that changed my whole life,” he said.

Today, his art showcases movement, identity and heritage through bright colors, bold brushstrokes, layered textures and cultural symbolism. An example is one of his pieces featured at the most recent iteration of BUTTER, a fine art fair. The painting was a tribute to his late grandmother.

Faith is a constant inspiration for Simon, helping him persevere through life’s most difficult challenges.

“The only way I can succeed is to push myself to fulfill my God-given potential,” Simon said.

His growing local recognition includes a residency at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and a community grant from the City of Fishers. He also teaches art to disabled youth at Harrison Center, where he encourages them to find freedom through creativity.

Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Abriana Herron at aherron@wfyi.org.