Free to Live - by Houston Vandergriff, Downs & Towns
This image was taken in Iceland by Houston Vandergriff, a travel photographer with Down syndrome. The abortion rate in Iceland for a Down syndrome diagnosis is 100%. Had Houston been conceived in Iceland, neither this photograph nor the photographer would exist.
This work is an Artist’s Proof and is part of the artist’s personal collection. The work is part of the socio-historical project CRITICIZE BY CREATING by Breezy Art.
Houston is based in Knoxville, Tennessee and has a simple vision with his photography: make the world a better place. He has traveled to 49 of the 50 United States, 5 Canadian provinces, and 26 countries. Houston inspires others, both inside and outside of the disability community. He is a strong self-advocate who uses the universal language of the arts for education and inclusion. He is a social media influencer - using Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to share his story. His clients include Amazon, Tiktok for Good, Nikon, and multiple brands of photography-related equipment.
Houston has appeared in live events, podcasts, and broadcasts on four continents. He has been called “The Champion of Life” by one broadcaster from India. By sharing his gift of photography he is also sharing the gift of hope. He is a member of the Southern Appalachia Nature Photographers (SANP) and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). In 2023 Houston was honored by NFT NOW as an NFT100 - one of the top 100 influential creators in the NFT space.
His photography journey has been shared in Newsweek, It’s Gone Viral, Aljazeera, Transcontinental Times, Spectrum News, and MSN. He and his mom were featured speakers at the NFT NYC and the World Down Syndrome Conference in Dubai.
His award-winning photography has been displayed in solo and group curated shows, online galleries, the Inspiration Gallery in Perth, Scotland, and NFT galleries in NYC, LA, Venice, and Rome. He was a 2023 Whale Exhibiting Artist and AVAX Artist in Residence, and was awarded the 2020 International Photographer in “My Perspective” photo competition in the UK.
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