Disabled Digital Artist
My name is Michaela and I am a 36 year old queer disabled digital artist from the United States.
I am completely self taught and have been drawing from bed since I was 17 years old when I decided that drawing was something I really wanted to do. I was very limited due to my severe chronic illnesses and Rare Diseases which caused injuries and for me to be stuck in bed so I needed to adapt and learn to draw in a way that worked for me. The solution came in digital drawing on a tablet connected to my laptop. Now I am still always learning new ways to improve and adapt drawing to make it easier for myself.
My main series are the Disabled Beauty Series which showcases Disabled People FOR Disabled People and the Portraits for Disabled Kids which is all about giving representation to kids who rarely get to see themselves in media.
Please reach out to me via email for questions about using my work at theogrefairy@gmail.com
Where does the name “Ogrefairy” come from?
When I was a teenager I felt very insecure about being overweight, disabled, and deep in the closet. I wished to be pretty like a fairy but found myself relating more to an ogre.
I decided to take that and make it mine. I am the ogrefairy.
[ID: a photo of Michaela sitting in their wheelchair outside in a parking lot. They have long brown hair with purple that fades into red in the front. They have on a black N95 mask and had purple circle glasses with silver accents and multiple silver necklaces. They are wearing their punk denim jacket covered in patches and pins and their “The future is Accessible” shirt, by Annie Segarra as well as black denim pants. They are sitting in their purple wheelchair and holding up a peace sign.]
Rare Across America
Rare Across America is a program hosted by the Everylife Foundation. It is an opportunity to meet with your Members of Congress at their in-district offices or through virtual meetings and educate them on the issues that are most important to the rare community by sharing your story.
I am honored to be a Rare Activist and represent my county as we try to get our members of congress to co-sponsor important Bills that impact the Rare Disease Community.
[ID: a photo of Michaela with dark hair and bright red bangs. They are wearing black cat eye framed glasses, a black blazer. a white blouse sleeve is peaking out. They are holding up a sign which reads “I am a Rare Disease Advocate! Rare Across America. Every Voice in Every District Matters. #RareAcrossAmerica. There is a bookshelf with lots of healthy plants behind them and their crutches rested to the side.]
