Art of Autism: A Different Lens

the art of autism: a different lens

April 5–August 3, 2025

This community partnership between Oceanside Museum of Art and The Art of Autism celebrates and champions neurodivergent artists while raising awareness about how people think, learn, perceive, and contribute their unique perspectives to the world we share. The exhibition and associated community programs will provide a robust platform for neurodivergent artists to share their self-expression and expose neurotypical audiences across Southern California to accomplishments by the visual artists featured while building understanding and support for the broader autism community. These programs will help audiences better understand our differences and unique perspectives, demonstrating how the arts physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally bridge communities.

The exhibition will showcase more than a dozen neurodiverse artists selected by The Art of Autism to share their best recent work with audiences across Southern California. The Art of Autism is a San Diego County-based nonprofit of talented individuals who have come together to display the creative abilities of people on the autism spectrum and others who are neurodivergent. The Art of Autism provides a forum to connect with those who wish to employ these abilities. Artists include Joel Anderson, Spencer Brown , Sydney Edmonds, Parker Franco, Austin John Jones, June Hasty, Kevin Hosseini, Brendan Kerr, Nicholas Kontaxis, Alex Nichols , Carissa Mordeno Paccerelli, Posts for Peace and Justice, Maddison Ross , Jeremy Sicile-Kira, and Clark Warren.


Brought to You with Generous Support From:

The Art of Autism
PARTNER

The Art of Autism is a San Diego County-based nonprofit of talented individuals who have come together to display the creative abilities of people on the autism spectrum and others who are neurodivergent. The Art of Autism provides a forum to connect with those who wish to employ these abilities.

The Foundation for Developmental Disabilities
SPONSOR

This exhibition is made possible through a grant from The Foundation for Developmental Disabilities (FDD). The FDD's mission is to generate and distribute funds to innovative programs that enhance the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

 

Terri Zimdars

PLATINUM SPONSOR

For additional resources, check out this reading list courtesy of our friends at the Oceanside Public Library

Children

My Friend has Autism - Amanda Doering Tourville
All my Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism - Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
Henry, like Always - Jenn Bailey
It was Supposed to be Sunny - Samantha Cotterill

Tweens

A Boy Called Bat - Elana K. Arnold
Al Capone does my Shirts - Gennifer Choldenko
We Could be Heroes - Margaret Finnegan
The Someday Birds - Sally J Pla
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! - Sarah Kapit

Teens

Tilly in Technicolor - Mazey Eddings
Unseelie - Ivelisse Housman
Daniel, Deconstructed - James Ramos
Same but Different: a Teen life on the Autism Express - Holly Robinson Peete, Ryan Elizabeth Peete, & Rj Peete
So, I’m Autistic: an Introduction to Autism for Young Adults and Late Teens - Sarah O’Brien

Adult

Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8: A Young Man’s Voice from the Silence of Autism - Naoki Higashida
Forever Boy - Kate Swenson
I Dream He Talks to Me: A Memoir of Learning How to Listen - Samantha Cotterill
I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust - Valerie Gilpeer
Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person’s Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically - Devon Price

Parenting

Autism and Your Teen - Blythe N. Grossberg
The Autism Discussion Page on Stress, Anxiety, Shutdowns and Meltdowns - Bill Nason
Positive Parenting for Autism - Victoria M. Boone
Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism - Barry M. Prizant
When Autism Becomes the New Awesome - Tania Malaniak

EXHIBITION CELEBRATION

Saturday, May 3, 2025, 5:00-7:00pm

Register Here (Members free, Visitors $15)

 

Artwork pictured at the top of the page, left to right: Kevin Hosseini, Red Roofs (detail); Sydney Edmond, A Bambi in the Woods (detail); June Hasty, Bird (detail); Alex Nichols, Summer Garden (detail); Jeremy Sicile-Kira, The Greatly Beautiful Colors of My Future Life (detail).

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