William Utermohlen The artist who painted self-portraits while ill Country: USA

The Artist Who Painted Self-Portraits While Battling Alzheimer's Disease

William Utermohlen, born in 1933, was an artist known for his self-portraits. In 1995, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain disorder. Despite the seriousness of his diagnosis, Utermohlen was determined to continue doing what he loved and excelled at – painting. However, he decided to focus on painting himself, honestly and sometimes ruthlessly, portraying his own illness.

As the disease progressed, Utermohlen's paintings vividly captured the changes caused by Alzheimer's. The effects of the disease were particularly visible in his technique, as it impaired his perception, visualization, and execution. Over time, his self-portraits transformed into abstract representations. While his earlier works were easily recognizable, by the year 2000, his face on the canvas became completely abstract.

Utermohlen painted as long as he could, but eventually, he had to move to a nursing home, where he stopped his artistic pursuits. The touching story behind his self-portraits sparked public interest, and the value of Utermohlen's paintings, especially those from his "Alzheimer's series," skyrocketed.

William Utermohlen studied painting in Philadelphia and later attended the acclaimed Ruskin School of Art in Oxford in the late 1950s. He eventually settled in London, where he lived until his death in 2007. His works were exhibited in major museums across the United States, with a particularly successful exhibition in Chicago.

A documentary film titled "Telling It Like It Is" explores the life of the artist. Utermohlen's widow revealed that he passed away much earlier than 2007, as he realized he could no longer paint. The series of self-portraits created during his debilitating illness became his most renowned project. These unflinching yet incredibly honest paintings reflect the gradual decline of his mind.

According to Utermohlen's wife, Patricia, an art historian, he was aware of and understood the deterioration of his technique. However, he embraced it as part of his artistic vision – to capture what was happening to him. Utermohlen used his self-portraits as a means to better understand himself and to release his sorrow and pain, which became increasingly difficult to manage.

William Utermohlen lived for 74 years, leaving behind a poignant series of paintings that ended when he could no longer hold a paintbrush. His legacy serves as a testament to his ability to express the human experience through art, even in the face of adversity.