COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A local screen printing company is taking on a new venture as The Awesome Company opened an art gallery solely focused on highlighting the artwork of autistic artists around the country.
The gallery is giving artists with autism the opportunity to be seen, heard and sell their artwork with the hope it will inspire others to connect with these artists and continue to grow. Founder Jacquie Mahan started the company as place to employ adults with autism.
Mahan always knew she wanted her company to be more than just a place of work, however. That drove the expansion into an art gallery that will be a space for artists with autism.
“I think that autistic and neurodivergent people can often have a hard time connecting to the neurotypical world, which is the world that most of us live in," Mahan said. "It can be very scary and uncomfortable for a neurodivergent person. An autistic person has wiring that's different and you can't connect and so you need someone to help bridge. So, I would say that I like to serve as the bridge.”
Elizabeth Newell is the first artist to have her work shown in this gallery. Her work has a theme of frogs and underlying themes of encouragement and inspiration, hence the title of her show, “Still Growing.”
“I think she's showing who she is through her artwork,” Mahan said. “For instance, the frog battling in the night with the light, that's her saying 'Don't give up. I'm going to look for the light. I'm going to keep going on, I keep persevering.'”
This gallery is a dream come true for Mahan, but she said the connections she will build with these artists is the greatest gift she could ever receive.
“It feels like icing on the cake," Mahan said. "But the cake is being friends with Elizabeth and being around art and collaborating, that really has been honestly the most fun part.”
The “Still Growing” show will run through the end of September at The Awesome Gallery.
