Autistic art

Many autistic art programs and projects are founded by nonprofit organizations, autistic artists, or other institutions to help autistic people to express themselves and promote autistic art.{{Cite web|title=Artwork|url=https://www.autismspeaks.org/artwork|website=autism speaks|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

Sensory hypersensitivity may make an autistic person much more perceptive than an allistic (non-autistic) person. The extreme attention to detail common in autistic people may manifest as talent in mathematics, art or other fields. Autistic persons who have talent in art are often outsiders in the art community. Unlike with common art, there is seldom any tradition or academic criteria in their creations. Each artist has their own personal style, that presents their conception of the autistic life experience.{{Cite journal|last=Cardinal|first=Roger|date=2009-05-27|title=Outsider Art and the autistic creator|url= |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume=364|issue=1522|pages=1459–1466|doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0325|pmc=2677583|pmid=19528031}}

{{Main|Art therapy}}

Art therapy is used as a therapeutic method primarily in autistic children, by itself or alongside methods such as applied behavior analysis. Proponents state it helps autistic children develop mental, social, and emotional maturity and teaches life skills. Advocates point out that art therapy can increase autistic tolerance to sensory stimuli and redirect self-stimulatory behavior "stims" into an activity less likely to distract other students. Artistic expression is a good alternative for nonverbal autistic children and those uncomfortable with verbal communication. Autistic people often have visual memory, so art therapy is a natural fit for autistic children who think in pictures instead of words.Grandin, Temple. "How does visual thinking work in the mind of a person with autism? A personal account." Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences vol. 364,1522 (2009): 1437–42. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0297

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Art is a medium used in many different ways to benefit patients dealing with health issues to mental setbacks. Using creative thinking within art and being able to express yourself in any way through your art is a vital experience for many individuals, especially children who may have a hard time expressing themselves. Children with autism greatly benefit from using art as a form of therapy, and art therapy is a wonderful tool that touches on many areas that are beneficial to these children.

Some of the main benefits of using art as a therapeutic tool is the sensory stimulation from using paint or clay etc. it can be as sensory as they need.  These art classes also allow the participants to become more outgoing and learn how to interact with their peers and other people, while in a safe place.

The self-esteem boost kids get from using art as a medium is also important to note as many kids feel accomplished in finishing their pieces and the experience is very positive for them.

By allowing these children to have this creative outlet to express their feelings through art as well as teaching them correct motor skills, art therapy has so many benefits.{{Cite web |last=htreasure |date=2018-09-30 |title=Art & Autism: All the Benefits {{!}} Hidden Treasures |url=https://htaba.com/art-autism-all-the-benefits/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=htaba.com |language=en-US}}

File:Stephen Wiltshire IMG 3031 (30520415881).jpg

• Stephen Wiltshire (b. 1974) – typically depicts cityscapes in his work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/|title=Stephen Wiltshire – Buy original drawings and limited editions|website=Stephen Wiltshire|language=en|access-date=2020-03-20}} He is one of the most famous autistic artists and his art usually surrounds architectural features.
• Donna Williams (1963–2017) – focused on figurative works with an emphasis on movement.
• Larry Bissonnette{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Roberta|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/22/arts/art-review-redefining-a-style-as-it-catches-on.html|title=ART REVIEW; Redefining a Style As It Catches On|date=1999-01-22|work=The New York Times|access-date=2010-04-26}} (b. 1957)
• Henriett Seth F.[http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_profiles/henriett_seth Henriett Seth F. – Rain Girl | Wisconsin Medical Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225110746/http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_profiles/henriett_seth|date=February 25, 2008}} (b. 1980) – creates abstract, highly patterned works.
• Gilles Tréhin (b. 1972) – a self-taught artist who creates largely architectural drawings in pencil. Many of his sketches are of an imaginary world called Urville.[http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/ Wisconsin Medical Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214163049/http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/|date=December 14, 2007}}
• George Widener[http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_profiles/george_widener George Widener – A Multiply Gifted Savant | Wisconsin Medical Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217065324/http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_profiles/george_widener|date=December 17, 2007}} (b. 1962) – creates detailed imaginary worlds that are displayed in Ricco Maresca Gallery in New York, New York.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riccomaresca.com/portfolio-items/george-widener/|title=George Widener|website=Ricco Maresca Gallery|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-20}}
• Richard Wawro (1952–2006)
• Jonathan Lerman (b. 1987)
• Govy{{Cite web|url=http://www.dontstareatthesun.com/|title=govy|website=govy|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-20}} (1981–2023)
• Susan Te Kahurangi King (b. 1951)
• Matthew Wong (1984–2019) – His work is characterised by his use of the colour blue and depictions of solitude.
• Ping Lian Yeak (b. 1993) – Malaysian-Australian artist, described as a young autistic savant.[https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-prodigys-cousin/201607/ping-lian-yeak-artist "Ping Lian Yeak, Artist", Psychology Today.]Pal, V. (2005) "Stroke of Genius" The Star (Malaysia), 03 Feb 2005.
• Gregory Blackstock (1946–2023) – An American artist who created visual lists of categorized objects.{{cite web |title=Escaping 'Drudgery' for a Life Well Lived: The Story of Artist Gregory Blackstock |url=https://www.knkx.org/other-news/2019-08-03/escaping-drudgery-for-a-life-well-lived-the-story-of-artist-gregory-blackstock |website=KNKX Public Radio |access-date=2023-01-20 |language=en |date=2019-08-03}}
• John Dyer (b. 1968) – A British artist who creates highly coloured and energetic paintings of the world with an emphasise on endangered environments and the landscape of Cornwall.{{cite web |url=https://johndyergallery.com/collections/john-dyer| title=john-dyer}}

Drawing Autism is a book collection of images and artwork created by people who are diagnosed with autism. This collection features creations of more than 50 autistic artists around the world and illustrates the potential for art of autistic persons as well as an insight into some of the characteristics of autism. The founder of the project is Jill Mullin, who is a board-certified behavior analyst. During her 15 years of experience working with autistic people, Mullin has found that many of them are talented in mathematics, science and art.{{Cite book|last=Mullin|first=Jill|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/833301442|title=Drawing autism|others=Grandin, Temple|year=2014 |isbn=978-1-61775-198-1|location=New York, NY|oclc=833301442}}

• Autism rights movement
• Autism: The Musical, a 2007 documentary about autistic children writing and appearing in their own play
• Disability Flag
• Life, Animated, a 2016 documentary featuring Disney fan art by autistic Owen Suskind
• Neurodiversity
• How to Dance in Ohio – 2023 Broadway musical based on the 2015 documentary film of the same name with actual autistic people playing autistic people
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – both the book and the Tony Award-winning play adaptation also about a person with autism

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{{Autism resources}}

Category:Visual arts genres

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