Drawing Autism

Behavior analyst and educator Mullin compiled this stunning volume of work from over 40 artists living with autism after working with an ASD (autism spectrum disorder) artist and becoming intrigued by his weekly drawings. The work featured here has been skillfully arranged to mirror the commonalities of the disease; for example, in the chapter “Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.” Some of the best pieces appear child-like in their simplicity, but reminiscent of masters such as Klee and Picasso in their emotional heft, as in “The Man on a White Horse” by Kevin Hosseini. Mullin interviews the contributors (including established artists Gregory Blackstock and Jessica Park) about their process and reasons for painting or drawing. Noah Erenberg uses words as his subject matter and creates designs in bold typeface and different colors, which remind him of hip-hop music. Eric Chen’s paintings feature words formed into figures and objects as a way to “convey the inner feelings I feel as a person with autism.” In her foreword, Temple Grandin explains how visual processing works for people with ASD and discusses her experience learning to draw livestock handling facilities. This book is a testament to the power of art to reveal the inner world of people living with ASD. Full-color illus. throughout. (Mar.)