Meet Claudia Nigrelli | Blind Artist and Speaker (Fluent in English, Italian, Spanish and French)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claudia Nigrelli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claudia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Previously ‘risk’ was something scary and unachievable versus now and, I quote Robin Sharma ‘The more time you spend in your discomfort zone, the larger your comfort zone will expand’. Embracing risk in my life has enabled me to explore more possibilities and opportunities that I would not have been able to truly experience and value as I do presently. As a blind individual almost everything that a sighted person takes for granted can typically be considered risky and unattainable. Furthermore, often people that mean well and have good intentions can hold someone back becaude of their own fear towards risk taking especially for those like myself who have visual or invisible disabilities. By em bracing ‘risk’ I have become an international speaker, artist and influencer. I feel my calling in life is to reach as many people as I can in my life journey and inspire them to dream more, to become more and to appreciate and value just how amazing they are!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an Artist with unique vision that allows me to see without limitations and I have a distinctive style that I apply to my art. Each piece is a representation of what I see in my mind. I then transpose that image or feeling onto the canvas. Though I cannot actually see the final product, I simply trust the process and love hearing how others have interpreted my works of art.
My inspiration for each art piece comes from a place deep within my soul and heart and incorporates various sensory elements for a truly wonderful and unique experience. I developed unique techniques given my visual limitations which permit me to ‘see’ through my other senses.

Some lessons I’ve learned along the way include; just be your true self and try not to let yourself be negatively influenced by others. No matter what life has thrown my way, I’ve learnt that it’s not how hard you fall rather it’s your ability to get back up and keep moving forward. I did not have a lot of personal confidence in the beginning however this journey has transformed me into what I believe is a much stronger, more confident and more positive version of myself. I even more so cherish how amazing we all are and it’s a matter of giving ourselves credit once in awhile and believing in our own ability to truly realize our goals no matter how big or small.

I was born in Montreal Quebec (Canada) and diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of seven and within a short period of time lost my eyesight.

I will always strive to be an example of perseverance, strength and a ‘never give up’ attitude! Whether we have the pleasure of meeting at one of my art shows or at an event I’ve been invited to speak at I look so very much forward to inspiring each and every one of you!

One of my often shared quotes is «Sight is Finite – Vision is Infinite » Claudia Nigrelli

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Montreal is a very vibrant and multi-cultural city in Canada. It is well known for it’s diverse food, culture and experiences. There are amazing cobbled streets and quaint shops and restaurants in the ‘Old Port’ of Montreal. If you’re into jazz, blues or comedy festivals this is the place to be! From an artistic perspective there is a plethora of outdoor art festivals, museums and art galleries. When you come to visit you MUST try a poutine lol (fries, gravy and cheese curds….trust me!).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shout out to Kerry Lehmann, who has been part of my business journey for over 10 years. As a business coach and my coordinator, we have managed to bring both my speaking and artistic ventures to the next level.

Kerry has this gift of helping people truly believe in themselves and what they are capable of achieving. You can’t help but walk away from a conversation with him and going forward see challenges and obstacles in your life as incredible opportunities to learn and grow.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/blindgirlartbyclaudia?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-nigrelli-510ab716a

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ClaudiaNigrelli

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@blindgirlartbyclaudia?_t=8e0qgvNd9wz&_r=1 https://www.tiktok.com/@claudia_and_irwin?_t=8e0qtg7GDxN&_r=1