Aspie artist: Should I go public?

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Hello!

I'm an artist (fine arts - paintings) as well as an Aspie. My art will go public for the first time ever this year. I'm so excited!

However, I can't figure out whether I should go public about me being an Aspie (and a Schizophrenic). On one hand, if I do, I can show people that Aspies can contribute to society (as well as refute the stereotype about lack of creativity among Aspies). On the other hand, I risk damaging my position as an artist, because I might be seen as a "poor little one" who can't do anything, someone who is ill and has one, and only one, good skill. I want to be seen as a whole person, not just a diagnosis from the DSM. But I want to help other Aspies too.

What do you think I should do?

Wait till you're established or till you don't have hesitations one way or the other.

Personally I'd go public, as an artist myself, I've found that most of the art community is very accepting of things like Aspergers.

As you say, its a good way of promoting the fact that we are more than capable of being creative! I certainly intend to be open about my Aspergs when I have put together enough art to do an exhibition.

The more we do to show people that we are creative the more we can break down the doors of prejudice.

News Alert: It is quite a well-established stereotype that historically the best artists have been the craziest (no offense, and sorry to be so blunt). Many were bipolar and a mix of many other neuroses. So, I doubt you will find the art community dismissive of you, in fact, my guess is that most people would be intrigued and embrace you. Art and entertainment is one of the few industries that are actually accepting and promoting of mental disorders of many colors. When I was highly immersed in the artistic community myself, at least every other person (if not more) that I met were loopy in some way--myself included, of course.

Follow the footsteps of other aspie artists -
* Aspie painter Katie Miller:
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-report ... ale-artist
http://zacbrowser.blogspot.co.il/2009/0 ... sm-as.html
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/aspergerwo ... -advocate-
* Aspie painter Peter Howson:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... eview.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hokw3_8QO4
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/new ... 108285.ece
http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sc ... -1-2817904
* Aspie musician Gary Numan:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... -aspergers
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... of-3508288
* Aspie musician Craig Nicholls:
http://www.nme.com/news/the-vines/22408
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2006/mar/05/popandrock
* Aspie musician Ladyhawke:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 85756.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music ... 745453.stm
* Aspie actor Paddie Considine:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/8440 ... elief.html

I call BS on this.

I'm an artist and bipolar I. I don't want my "issues" to be front and center with my art.

Look at this way, if you were diabetic, a drug addict, cardiac or cancer patient, would you hype that up? Doubtful. Unless it was a fund raiser for some group.

The "art community" probably won't care if you have a spike in your head and 3 eyes. The future commissoners of your work want to know you'll finish the work and not flake out.

I've worked with all sorts of artsy folks. The worst ones are the people that tell me about their issues, which I truly don't give a rat's ass about. Can you do the work and finish on time? I'm not a Trustfarian. Daddy's money ain't paying my rent. I'm extremely willing to bend, but if the s**t turns into a soap opera, I got no time for that.

Believe me, I have 14 inpatient hospitalizations for the Bipolar. I can't count how many psych day treatment programs. I've got the crazy cred in spades.

I want my art to be judged by it's own merits. Not some pity f**k from the critics. I want people to buy my work and get commissions. The Bipolar, I believe, doesn't add to that equation. Just another variable that I have to deal with. Just another point I have would have to gloss over and prove "I can handle the work".

I'm 49. May it's been cause I've seen people disclose all sorts of s**t that complicated their lives for nothing.

Be an artist. No reason to disclose all your inner demons or what not.

Well said! Some people forget that artists have "employers" too.

It depends on the nature of your art..is it a form of direct communication between yourself and the viewer? If so, the work will speak for itself and your personality definition might get in the way of your message. Then again, if being an Aspie Artist is part of the message, then disclosure is necessary. I'm also an artist and my work is the disclosure itself...I don't need to talk about myself over the top of the work. Looking at the list above, the fact that these artists have a dx is irrelevant to my experience of their work - ...

Personally, if it is what you want to do, i would go public.
Sometimes it is better to be outright with people than have them find out later on.

It's also embracing who you are, and that shows others that it's okay!
Also it may attract people who are also ASD to you and your work.

If it is how you identify, i say go public and be proud =)

dont use the label if it isnt a condition which affects the art in any significant way,however not using the label can lead people to a disadvantage if they are not mild enough to hide it and have to reveal, this is where outsider art comes in; its a subform of art full of people who are divergent in some way.
outsider neednt be seen in a negative way or a sub category where people with attention seeking issues can gain what they seek.

am acutely limited in art ability by severe autism and intelectual disability, these also uniquely flavour the styling and way am able to draw because have got to use hand over hand method,spent many years on deviant art, only to eventualy be told by others that comments was getting on art of mine was bullying, despite the fact had told everyone the reasons behind why it looks different people were still quick to say what a piece of sht it was and shoud never do art again.
what an absolutely sadomasochistic site,woud never recommend it to any artists unless they have stereotypicaly easy looking work or are manipulators of online communities; which is how so many get daily deviant,as opposed to those who spend all their time and effort on their pictures but are not people who can go against themselves and fake friendships to get votes.

,am a long time fan of the outsider artists; stephen wiltshire and raymond hu,they both are disabled and their work is greatly affected by their disabilities in different ways,they are also f*****g amazing.
stephen is a classic autist/autie, and raymond has full [not mosaic] down syndrome, raymonds particular interest is animals whereas stephens is realistic paintings of areas and more specificaly;buildings he likes using the power of an incredible eidetic memory.


hope this makes sense,have had the nightly lorazepam,tegretol,cymbalta,circadin and respiridone and am trying to stay focused on the post.

I don't think there is a "stereotype about a lack of creativity among Aspies." I never heard anyone say that before.

But good luck with your art... do you have a website or url where we can see examples of your work? http://f0rtylegz.tumblr.com/

yes but dont make it a emphasis on what you do let your art speak for you

If I were you I'd wait and see what the response is to your art. Better to build a following and come out when you are ready, and your fans are ready than to look like you're riding the Aspie bandwagon before you find popularity.
Find your audience and then let the art speak for itself, and then make some sort of statement.
To do it the other way around you may be seen as just an attention seeking Aspie, and they won't appreciate your art and your uniqueness for what it is.

<---Never looks at himself as an aspie writer. He's just a writer.

I think you should establish yourself as an artist first. There's no need to swear your friends to secrecy or anything, but I wouldn't recommend openly presenting yourself as an autistic, schizophrenic, or generally disabled artist. Just identify yourself as an artist and let your work be judged on its own merits. That's what should happen anyway, but if you identify yourself as an autistic and schizophrenic artist, people will see your work differently. They may subconsciously think it's "good, for someone with a disability"--and either not take it seriously ("Aww, that's cute! I'm glad you've found something useful to do!") or take it way too seriously, as though you were a gorilla making paintings ("Wow! That autistic person is amazing! We should celebrate their freaky talent and their ability not to eat the paint!").

It's a pity that people consider autism and schizophrenia to put you in a different category from "normal artists", but they do. If there weren't so much ablism in the world, you could mention being autistic and it wouldn't really affect the way people saw your art any more than it would if you mentioned your hometown or your height. But unfortunately, it colors their perception of things, so if you want them to judge you on the same terms as other artists, it's better not to let the autism take the stage too much.

I'm not saying you ought to "stay in the closet", as it were; there's no call for that, and nobody should have to keep part of their life secret, especially out of shame. Just don't specifically market yourself as an autistic artist until people have had a chance to judge your art on its own merits.

This year I have a book coming out, a collection of novellas and short stories. None mentions autism or Asperger's. However, my first novel, hopefully to be released next year, has a main character who is an undiagnosed aspie.

I might probably go out and reveal that I'm on the spectrum to give the character credibility, but I'm still debating this decision. It's like what Callista said. "Oh, your work is cute - for an autistic person." My first collection was accepted by a publisher and they still don't have a clue I'm autistic.

Up till now I still haven't even decided if I should say the main character is an undiagnosed aspie or whether I should reveal my own condition.