Welcome to the ASD Arts! page. This new resource is intended to serve as a showcase for a wide range of creative work which is produced by people with ASDs. It also aims to provide a creative entry point into understanding ASDs.
Showcase
Thanks to Grace Culliton for allowing us to use her artwork in the ASC website design. Grace was born in 1988, and was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. Grace demonstrated talent in art at an early age. She has won several awards for her work. Her art is characterized by strong use of colour, and a mature sense for spatial design, patterns and textures. Visit Grace's website to learn more about her, and to view a gallery of her artwork. View Brushes with Grace (Ballinran Productions), a mini documentary which profiles Grace, her family, and their inspiring journey.
Order beautiful Art Note Cards from Grace Culliton [PDF]: Popular note cards featuring original Art Prints by Grace Culliton, a young artist with autism. Grace demonstrated talent in art at an early age, and despite the significant challenges she faces as an individual with autism, has won awards and recognition for her work. Note cards are 41/2’ x 5” on high quality stock (also suitable for framing). Several series to choose from.
View Sebastien Choo's Watercolour Paintings, shot by Jerome Poudevigne.
Ben Simcoe: Ben is a 24 year old impressionist and a person with a developmental disability (Fragile X Syndrome or we prefer, 'a chronic case of acute individuality'.) Ben has been performing his entire life for his family, however, announced a year ago that he would like to become an entertainer. He has performed his show this past year before various groups in the Vancouver lower mainland area, including Mission Association for Community Living; District of Mission’s Celebration of Community Illiuminaria; Youth Unlimited; Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion; Station X; and Mission Foursquare Church’s Women’s Retreat. This summer, Ben will be competing in the Red Robinson BC Talent Showdown at the PNE. Ben does not have a fee for his show however, will accept honorariums when they are given. Ben and his family's goal is to honour his gifts while shaking up the perceptions many have of people with developmental disabilities. They would also like to offer hope to young families who have a child with a developmental disability. Ben continues to learn new voice impressions and has about eighty different characters. He closes his 15-20 minute show singing, ‘What a Wonderful World’ in Louis Armstrong’s voice. If you are interested in having Ben at your event, please contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Debby Simcoe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
David's Art. David Beresford is a Canadian illustrator and musician who works in multiple media: "Art is something I have always loved doing since I was 5 years old and I have been working and progressing my creativity ever since then. While I was growing up, I didn't have much social interaction with people, so I found that the best way to get a response from others was from my drawings and paintings. To me, art is life and it never loses its true value when a piece is created." [excerpt from website]
Claire Morrall: The author explores Asperger's syndrome in her latest novel. Danuta Kean, The Independent: The main protagonist in her new novel, The Language of Others, is another enigma. On first impressions, Jessica is a troublesome child, painfully withdrawn and, as Morrall admits, "difficult to deal with". As the story unfolds, her inability to read people, especially Andrew, the tantrum-throwing violinist whom she goes on to marry, is frustrating. Later, her passivity when faced with Andrew's abuse and her 24-year-old son Joel's adolescent reticence is infuriating. But as Morrall reveals Jessica's past and Jessica narrates her present, it becomes apparent that her inability to deal with the mess of human emotion is the result of undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome... [Hodder & Stoughton publishers website]
Zarketh: The Hungering Cold by Matthew David Boyle. Matthew is 19 years old and the youngest brother of four. He was diagnosed with Autism (PDD/NOS) when he was three years old and did not speak until he was four. He struggled through the social aspects of the school system, leaving in grade 10, although he excelled in several courses, especially mathematics. Matthew had no interest in his English courses until he met a home instruction teacher, in Grade 9, who took the time to nurture his self-esteem as well as his incredible imagination. He is an avid computer gamer, to which he attributes some of his ideas and he is currently working on a book series.
The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to Heal His Son. "Rupert Isaacson is the father of Rowan, a beautiful and spirited young boy with autism. Rupert and his family live in Austin, Texas, where a neighbour’s horse, Betsy, became an instrumental factor in Rowan’s healing." - Hachette Book Group. A new book and film document the Isaacson family's journey.
Erik Originals. A website showcasing a range of woodwork by Erik Warren. Existing works can be purchased through the site, and the artist can be commissioned to create custom works.
Glimpse is a new publication from The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders that showcases the unique perspective contained in the writings and artwork of individuals with a history of autism and other developmental disabilities. [PDF]
Kaleidoscope Ride. KiSara (Kim Souch and Sara Sobey Souch) are a mother-daughter musical duo who have been touring Ontario since 1997. Their family's journey through Autism and ASD has culminated in Kaleodoscope - a musical celebration of abilities and life. Music Video: [View YouTube video]
Myimagiville and our Imagifriends, D.J. Svoboda. Imagiville and its inhabitants are the culmination of Daniel Svoboda's creative efforts in response to some difficult years at school. An aspiring writer and illustrator, Svoboda's art offers a path from the encounter with difference to its acceptance. The site showcases Svoboda's work and the services that he provides as an artist.
The Pilgrims: The Jounrey to A New World for Autism. Amanda Copeland, Raygun Productions/Pilgrim Pictures. Three amazing, courageous children on the autism spectrum lead the way along the fabled Camino de Santiago, walking for a revolution in delivery of diagnosis and intervention for the autism epidemic world-wide. The only film of its kind ever made about autism. Coming January 2009.
Rudely Interrupted, whose 5 out of 6 musicians share a range of intellectual and physical disabilities, has been making waves in the Australian pop-rock scene. The band was the first ever indie act invited to play at the UN headquarters to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. [View photo set from UN HQ performance]
Sarah Stup, a writer with autism, discovered the power of the written word when she was eight. Until that time, because she could not speak, few appreciated just how bright she was or the extent to which she absorbed her lessons and environment. Ultimately, Sarah would graduate high school with honors, but it was from her first awkwardly written sentences that her dream of being a writer began.
Steven Wiltshire is a London-based artist, named Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to the art world. Best known for his panoramic cityscapes (often drawn entirely from memory), Wiltshire's work has garnered critical attention since his childhood. In 2006, he opened a permanent gallery of his work at the Royal Opera Arcade.
YouTube Clip: Missing Pieces choreographed by Mark Leland, Dance World Cup, Canada, March 5, 2010.
YouTube Clip: Stephen Wiltshire has been called the "Human Camera." In this short excerpt from the film Expedition ins Gehim (Beautiful Minds: A Voyage into the Brain), Wiltshire takes a helicopter journey over Rome and then draws a panoramic view of what he saw, entirely from memory.
YouTube Clip: Alex, ten years old, has been diagnosed with mild-moderate autism since the age of four. This year, Alex overcame many of his fears to start his dream of becoming a comedian, and did a stand up comedy routine for his school talent show (in front of about 500 students!).
YouTube Clip: John "Hai" Knapp, a musician/singer/songwriter and healthcare activist in the United States, performs "Viva la Companie." Knapp expresses a deep concern with the lack of affordable healthcare in the US, and his music as well as advocacy work call attention to a critical need for reform.
YouTube Clip: Little Autistic Drummer Boy [sic.]. "An 11yr old autistic boy (my son, Malikai) goes from 'drifting along...' to 'Full Steam Ahead!' in one 1/2 hr session after 2 & 1/2 yrs of lessons. This has been edited to 10 min. to give you the "feel of it" but I had to take out a lot of really cool stuff. Watch the 3 part series for the full 1/2 hour."
