A non-verbal teenager with autism is finding a new voice through his striking artwork, which is already being sold for thousands of dollars at a Toronto gallery.
Niam Jain began painting three years ago. Since then, the 15-year-old has become an emerging artist in the fields of gestural abstract art and abstract expressionism.
鈥淗e is an artist and he鈥檚 good at what he does and his artwork 鈥� and I know I鈥檓 his mom 鈥� it is beautiful,鈥� his mother Nina Jain told 麻豆影视. 鈥淭he autism allows him to see the world differently.鈥�
caught the eye of the associate director of the Abbozzo Gallery in downtown Toronto.
鈥淚 found him on his website and it looked to me like it was from a mid-career artist,鈥� Marco Rosada said. 鈥淚t was quite experienced.鈥�
The gallery is currently showing an exhibition comprised entirely of Niam鈥檚 artwork and it appears to be a success. Of the 12 paintings on display, 11 of them have already been purchased for approximately $5,000 to $6,000 each.
鈥淣iam is an artist regardless of his limitation, which I don鈥檛 even believe is a limitation,鈥� Rosada said.
The young artist鈥檚 mother said her son has taught himself to paint by watching other artists or simply expressing himself. For example, in one painting a stark orange dot stands out against a blue-green backdrop.
鈥淗e actually ran from across the room to create that orange dot so there鈥檚 a lot of movement in that to create exactly what he wanted to show, which was that that鈥檚 him in this world and he鈥檚 different,鈥� she explained. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the orange dot in a blue world.鈥�
The artist鈥檚 mother said the exhibition has given her son a newfound confidence and that he鈥檚 even started purchasing his own art supplies with his earnings. She said she鈥檚 hopeful he鈥檒l be able to support himself as an adult one day thanks to his promising paintings.
Niam鈥檚 exhibit runs until Nov. 10 at the Abbozzo Gallery in downtown Toronto.
With a report by 麻豆影视鈥� medical affairs specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip
