Mural Mania artist shares unique approach to unlocking her creativity

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For many artists, the power of mental imagery and imagination is what keeps their careers alive, but for Memphis based muralist, Kirsten Sandlin, being born with aphantasia or the inability to create mental images, has forced her into taking a different path, to get to the same place.

“Some people can see nothing. Blackness when they close their eyes and that’s what I see,” Sandlin explained her experience as.

Having spent decades painting, the Memphis based artist has utilized technology to replace her loss of mental imagery, while enhancing the universal themes of hope, innocence, and understanding, often seen in her work.

“I definitely have found that the digital world has helped me because I can always look at my iPad, and I can always have something to look at while I am painting. I do think that it makes my style different from someone who is just painting something they’re imagining in their head,” Sandlin said.

Because of her unique creative process, Sandlin has been able to inspire those seeing life through a similar lens.

“It has allowed me to meet some amazing people who hear that I have aphantasia, and say, ‘I have it to, I didn’t know it was a thing, and I didn’t know I could be an artist with aphantasia,” Sandlin said. “I think the thing to remember is that if it’s in you to create, you’re probably going to want to follow it.”

The journey of building a career as an artist while supporting her family has been one of ups and downs, but for Sandlin it has served as a reminder that it is never too late to chase your dreams.

You can visit Kirsten Sandlin’s mural, located at 109 W. Jefferson BLVD.