Carmela Kolman was a New York still life painter born with Marfan syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects the eyes, the heart, and other parts of the body. After receiving a BFA degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Yale University, she spent her career studying the visual effects of light on fruit, roses and other objects.
Although she was born blind in one eye and had very poor vision in the other, her struggle against this handicap allowed her to create her art. She died on March 20, 2018 at age 57, after complications that followed her fourth heart surgery.
In 2019 her husband John Rizzo established the Carmela Kolman ‘82 Endowed Scholarship at the Rhode Island School of Design. The scholarship provides financial assistance for an art student with a disability.
Framed giclee canvas reproductions of most of her paintings are available for purchase. For more information, use the contact form.
For more information about Marfan syndome, go to http://www.marfan.org.
Although she was born blind in one eye and had very poor vision in the other, her struggle against this handicap allowed her to create her art. She died on March 20, 2018 at age 57, after complications that followed her fourth heart surgery.
In 2019 her husband John Rizzo established the Carmela Kolman ‘82 Endowed Scholarship at the Rhode Island School of Design. The scholarship provides financial assistance for an art student with a disability.
Framed giclee canvas reproductions of most of her paintings are available for purchase. For more information, use the contact form.
For more information about Marfan syndome, go to http://www.marfan.org.
