In Drawing Autism, works of art offer visions of the world that their creators often are unable to communicate



Autism is one of the greatest modern mysteries of cognitive science, a multifaceted condition that remains largely misunderstood. I've previously explored several notable autistic outliers—British savant Stephen Wiltshire, who draws remarkable 3D panoramas of cities from memory; animal scientist Temple Grandin, who is equally well-known for her innovations in livestock herding and her autism advocacy; and autistic savant Daniel Tammet, who was able to learn Icelandic in a week, among other remarkable feats of memory. But what is the actual experience of living with autism in a deep-felt sense, beyond the social stereotypes and headline-worthy superskills? Drawing Autism, a celebration of the artistry and self-expression found in artwork by people diagnosed with autism, explores just that.

The stunning volume, with an introduction by Grandin herself, features works by more 50 international contributors, from children to established artists, that illustrate the rich multiplicity of the condition -- which we hesitate to call a "disorder" as we subscribe to the different, not lesser view of autism -- and the subjective experience of each autistic individual. Thanks to Will of 50 Watts for the wonderful images.

"Who are some artists that you like?"