5 Autistic Artists Who Turned Creativity into Their Superpower

In Celebration of Autism Awareness Month, we're shining a light on artists who prove that autism can be a catalyst to a life filled with creativity and breaking past limiting barriers.

Meet Raven Hamby, Remy Minshall, Kambel Smith, Hayden Garner, and Louis DeMarco! We hope their stories and art inspire your little one to bask in the beauty of self-expression. 

Raven Hamby

Raven Hamby is the sister of our Assistant Web Merchant Ariel Hamby and an incredible artist with a knack for graphic illustration. Her love for art started with freehand drawing to express herself, which led to drawing her favorite cartoon characters and sometimes family and friends.

Once she felt more comfortable with her steady hand, she moved on to the next big thing: graphic illustration. For years, Hamby perfected her craft by studying YouTube videos and different animations that we often see used in movies today. When Hamby first started drawing, she would say that she dreamed of one day being an artist on Disney's animation team. As the years go on, Hamby's drawings continuously become more animated and complex, taking her one step closer to making her dream a reality.

Raven's Inspired Craft Prompt

Remy Minshall

At just seven years old, Remy found an interest in creating marbled pieces after discovering acrylic art through his mother. This past time activity turned into a mission to show the world the true potential of autistic children. More of his incredible art can be found on his mother's website, where she chronicles her life as a parent of a child on the spectrum. 

Remy's Inspired Craft Prompt

Kambel Smith

Self-taught artist and author of "The Adventures of Survivor," Kambel Smith made a name for himself by creating larger-than-life art. The Philadelphia native turned cardboard into a model of buildings in his hometown and uses oil paintings to capture the essence of the city of brotherly love. His trailblazing work was recently featured in the Atlanta Contemporary.

Kambel's Inspired Craft Prompt

Hayden Garner

In 2016, Hayden was diagnosed with autism and used his blog, Messy Miscreation, to share his experience with autism as an adult and mental health. He uses ink drawings to give a vivid view of what those worlds look like for him in an attempt to normalize them.

Hayden's Inspired Craft Prompt

Louis DeMarco

Artist, musician, designer, and writer, Louis DeMarco is an all-around creative who uses personal mythologies and motivational hyperbole to examine his experiences. DeMarco uses his knack for comedy to tackle serious topics that include disappointment, anxiety, paranoia, and relationship negotiations through his art.
 

Louis' Inspired Craft Prompt

Want to get more involved? Here’s How.

Social Support: During this month of April, many will be using the hashtags #celebratedifferences, #kindnesscounts, and #worldautismmonth to spread awareness and build community.

Get informed: Autism Society Of America provides thoughtful and digestible resources that help educate and advocate for issues surrounding autism.