Famous Artists with Autism

People with autism shouldn’t be defined just by the challenges they face and the limitations they have. Instead, they should be celebrated for the unique gifts and talents that they have.

While people who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) certainly have challenges that many neurotypical individuals don’t, that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of great things. While many people on the autism spectrum have difficulty with social interactions and communication, and may have restrictive interests and/or repetitive behaviors, they also can be very bright and very talented.

Some even have what’s known as Savant Syndrome, a condition in which a person who has a developmental disability also possesses at least one exceptional skill that far exceeds the general population.

Even people with autism who don’t have Savant Syndrome can often display exceptional talents in fields such as music, mathematics, engineering, art and many different areas.

This is well illustrated by the famous artists with autism we have listed below.

Learn more about the specialized talents of people with autism

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Michelangelo

One of the most famous artists of all-time is thought to have been on the autism spectrum. While autism wasn’t a disorder that was defined or diagnosed at the time that he lived — in the late 1400s and early 1500s — many of the traits and behaviors that he displayed are in line with the telltale signs of ASD.

For instance, he was said to be extremely fixated on his work. Michelangelo also faced difficulties regulating his emotions and interacting socially, and he thrived when he had a strict routine.

All of these traits probably helped contribute to his masterful work in art as a painter, sculptor, poet and even architect.

Henriett Seth F.

Henriett Seth F. was born in Hungary in the 1980s, during a time of massive political change. As a result, she wasn’t afforded needed medical care and other treatment for her disorder.

Still, she was able to rise out of the society in which she was born to be a savant artist. She has won awards for her poetry and even created many fine art works.

Some people refer to Henriett as Rain Girl because of some of the similarities she has to the main character in the famous movie “Rain Main.” She has communication issues and trouble making eye contact. However, her IQ is 140, making her an official savant.

Gilles Trehin

Born in 1972 in France, Gilles’ exceptional talents were noticed early on. When he was 5 years old, he was able to draw three-dimensional pictures that looked realistic, even though his peers were barely drawing stick figures.

Gilles experienced delays in his speech, had echolalia and infrequently played with other children. He also experienced hypersensitivity to loud sounds, and was obsessed with buildings, airplanes, mountains and phone numbers.

Gilles is known for the buildings he draws, and everything in his works come from his imagination.

Stephen Wiltshire

In the 1970s, Stephen Wiltshire, who was born in the United Kingdom, was diagnosed with autism. He was sent to a special school for children with developmental challenges, as his parents hoped that he would learn how to write, read and speak.

He hadn’t spoken at all until he randomly said “pen” and “paper” during kindergarten, which prompted his teacher to hand those things to him. He then almost instinctively began to draw, the story goes, different scenes that he remembered from a recent class trip.

Stephen became known for the complicated cityscapes that he drew, replicating real-life cities in his work. Because of what he did, and how well he did it, he was often called the “human camera.”

Peter Howson

Peter Howson’s first work of art came when he was 6 years old, and it was a scene of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. He eventually went to art school and began painting as soon as he got out.

Born in 1958 in London, he rose to fame when the BBC released a documentary on him. In 1993, he was chosen as the official British war artist during the Bosnian Civil War, and in 1998 he designed a postage stamp for the country.

He wasn’t diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome until recently, and has since advocated for awareness of autism throughout the UK.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Support Children with Autism

There are many amazing things that children with autism can do, as exemplified by the famous artists above who have autism.

At Blue Gems ABA, we are dedicated to supporting children with autism so they can achieve amazing things. We do so by administering applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy, on a one-to-one basis.

This science- and evidence-based approach to learning and behavior helps children with ASD build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.