I wanted to translate from one flat surface to another. In fact, my learning disabilities controlled a lot of things. I don't recognize faces, so I'm sure it's what drove me to portraits in the first place.

In this quote, Chuck Close reflects on how his learning disabilities influenced both his artistic journey and the themes he explored in his work. He mentions wanting to translate from one flat surface to another, referring to the process of creating art—specifically portraits—on a flat medium like a canvas. This desire to capture likeness and essence on a two-dimensional plane became a driving force in his career, ultimately leading him to focus on portraiture. Close suggests that his disabilities, particularly his inability to recognize faces, played a significant role in guiding him toward this artistic medium.

Close’s mention of not recognizing faces refers to a condition known as prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which made it difficult for him to recognize or remember people’s faces. However, instead of being deterred by this challenge, Close channeled it into his work, using portraits as a way to explore his own perception of identity and human connection. In this sense, his learning disabilities didn’t limit his creativity but rather became a motivating force that helped him to develop his unique approach to portraiture.

The origin of this quote comes from Close’s personal journey as an artist, where he has been open about how his disabilities shaped his art. Throughout his career, Close became famous for his hyperrealistic portraits, often creating large-scale works with incredible detail. His style was influenced by his desire to translate his limited recognition of faces into a highly detailed, methodical approach to capturing human likenesses.

Ultimately, Close’s words highlight the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming obstacles. Rather than allowing his learning disabilities to define or restrict him, Close used them as a source of inspiration. His ability to turn a perceived limitation into an artistic strength speaks to the transformative power of art and the way personal experiences can shape and enhance creative expression.