The Pathway to the Park

by Netta Ganor

“My name is Netta and I’m a mouth painter overcoming paralysis with my artistic spirit. A self-taught painter, I joined the international association of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) in 2003 - a unique association supporting artists who cannot paint with their hands due to physical disabilities. My oil paintings have been showcased in numerous group exhibitions and solo shows. As an artist navigating a severe physical disability, my art becomes a canvas of liberation. Devoid of hand function, the brush in my mouth is my conduit to control, independence and a profound sense of freedom. My realism captures intricate details, portraying the beauty I discover in my surroundings. I draw inspiration from my experience as a mother with physical challenges and take pleasure in painting my sons in beautiful everyday moments. My submission features five paintings that express my perspective as a disabled mother. They illustrate that having a disabled parent doesn’t condemn children to a limited life. Through this work, I aim to convey that disabled individuals can—and deserve to—lead fulfilling, normal lives.”

Netta was born on in 1979 in Jerusalem and grew up as a very artistic girl. At the age of 15 she contracted ‘Transverse Myelitis’ – a rare syndrome which inflated her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. During rehabilitation she taught herself how to paint with her mouth. In 2003 she was accepted to the international association of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. She became an Associate Member of the association in 2015 and wrote and illustrated three children’s books published by the association. Netta works primarily in oils. She often employs bold colors in a way that captures the colorful, optimistic side of reality in a realistic manner. Netta has a BA in Computer Science and an MBA in Information Systems. She works in the Israeli hi-tech industry, married and a mother of two.