NIMH/OARC Special Event for Autism Awareness Month
A Portrait of Autism: Artists and Their Works
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) are pleased to host their 10th Annual Autism Awareness Month Special Event, A Portrait of Autism: Artists and Their Works. This virtual event will feature 4 artists, who will talk about how their experiences as autistic individuals have shaped their artistic expression. The event will include a sampling of their artwork and a Q&A with the artists.
Artwork
Event Information
| Topic | Topic Description |
|---|---|
| Date: | Friday, April 14, 2023 |
| Time: | 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Cost: | The event is free and open to the public. |
| Registration: | Pre-registration is recommended. Register now. |
| Access: | This is a virtual event and will be accessible via NIH VideoCast If you experience technical problems, please e-mail IACCPublicInquiries@mail.nih.gov. |
| Disability Accommodations: | Captioning will be available. Individuals who need sign language interpreters and/or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this event may contact Rebecca Martin at Rebecca.martin@nih.gov or 301-435-0886. Please make accommodation requests 7 business days prior to the event. This is a family-friendly virtual event. |
Agenda
| Time | Event | ||||||||
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| 2:00 p.m. | |||||||||
| 2:05 | |||||||||
| 2:10 | |||||||||
| 2:15 | |||||||||
| 2:20 |
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| 3:00 | |||||||||
| 3:15 | |||||||||
| 3:30 |
Artists
Jeremy Sicile-Kira
Abstract Expressionist
Jeremy Sicile-Kira is an intuitive abstract expressionist, who uses his gift of synesthesia to create his paintings. He sees and feels emotion as colors, and hearing voices and music elicits colors as well. In 2012, Mr. Sicile-Kira began to paint the colors he saw around people and events and writing descriptions of the emotional meanings of the colors he sees or hears.
Full biography, art gallery, and more.
Ronaldo Byrd
Contemporary Hip "Pop" Artist
Ronaldo Byrd was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is a Contemporary Hip "Pop" Artist who began painting at the tender age of 3. Mr. Byrd is mostly a self-taught Artist who has developed his own style of art and his own characters, which he puts in phenomenal scenes. He has shown his work in several galleries, including a solo show at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Full biography, art gallery, and more.
Sheila Benedis
Sculpture Artist
Ms. Sheila Benedis was born with what she describes as "undiagnosed Aspergers." Ms. Benedis received little exposure to the arts growing up. Now, she lives near a park and finds inspiration from living close to nature. She shares that experiencing nature, such as trees swaying in the breeze and seasonal changes, is a form of meditation and inspires her work.
Full biography, art gallery, and more.
David Downes
English Landscape Painter
David Downes is an English landscape painter known for his vast skies, beautiful seascapes, and complex architectural drawings. His work captures architecture and landscapes from an aerial position. Mr. Downes has a photographic memory, which he puts down to his neurodivergent brain. He can recall the places he has visited in brilliant detail and paint them from his recollections.
Full biography, art gallery, and more.
