I recently had the opportunity to provide ASL interpretation alongside Erin Oleson Dickson and Deniz Ilkbasaran for Cafés and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, San Diego, California.

The exhibition continues through September 20, 2026, featuring approximately fifty works from the Museum’s permanent collection, including pieces connected to the historic Baldwin Foundation gift.

Known for transforming poster art and color lithography, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec developed a bold visual language influenced by modern Paris, Japanese graphic arts, and artists such as Edgar Degas and Vincent van Gogh. His artwork documented performers, dancers, musicians, and everyday personalities with expressive movement and strong composition.

Living with a disability that affected the growth of his legs, Toulouse-Lautrec focused deeply on drawing and painting, creating artwork that continues to resonate with audiences more than a century later.

Providing ASL interpretation for this exhibition was especially meaningful to me as a Deaf artist. Accessibility within museums allows Deaf audiences to experience exhibitions through language that feels visual, natural, and culturally connected. Art should not feel distant or limited by communication barriers.

What stands out to me about Toulouse-Lautrec’s work is the emphasis on gesture, expression, atmosphere, and human interaction. Those visual elements connect naturally with ASL and the way Deaf communities experience storytelling through movement and visual communication.

This experience created an opportunity to help expand accessibility while building another bridge between visual art, Deaf culture, and shared human experience.

Featuring ASL interpretation by:
Jon Savage
Erin Oleson Dickson
Deniz Ilkbasaran