Meghan Sims was born in Kitchener Ontario in 1980 with a rare visual condition called Achromatopsia. Being an achromat, Sims is colourblind, near sighted and extremely light sensitive. Her unique way of seeing the world inspired a lifelong curiosity with the concepts of perception, light, shadow and the emotional values of colour. Sims was drawn to painting and use of glass as a means to communicate literal representations of her perception and to emotionally express her personal struggles with disability and otherism. It is this perception that has shaped and become characteristic of her unique artistic style.
In an effort to grasp the qualities of light, Sims studied under Canadian photographer, Patrick Wey. The camera became one of her early adaptive techniques, enabling her to examine her surroundings in a measure of detail that was previously inaccessible. Having control over light exposure allowed for immediate experimentation into limitless perspectives.
At the Haliburton School of the Arts, Sims further pursued her interest in light and its properties by studying glassblowing. During her studies, she was able to expand her knowledge base, strengthen her oil and acrylic painting techniques and refine her artistic voice. Her time in school was valuable, however, she was again confronted directly with her disability. Maintaining the pace of her classmates became extremely difficult, emotionally and physically. Sims approached senior glass master, John Kepkiewicz for mentorship. With the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, he and Sims developed a series of adaptive techniques, complementary to her visual capabilities, involving mirrors and reflected light. This significant development allowed her to continue her exploration with glass and the role light plays in her life and work.
For Sims, light is both comfort and discomfort; pleasure and pain. Glass is, for her, a way of separating these dichotomies into a balance that presents hidden wonders. Her work represents an ongoing search for new wonders hidden within glass, light and canvas, and she continually strives to open a dialogue that challenges preconceived notions about ability and disability.