Revisiting UN Art Exhibit for Autism Awareness Month
Perceptions of Sentience was a landmark art exhibition hosted at United Nations Headquarters in New York in celebration of Autism Awareness Month. The exhibit brought together a powerful collection of works by neurodivergent artists from around the world, each offering a deeply personal window into sensory experience, emotional perception, and the many ways autistic individuals interpret and interact with the world.
Among the featured artists was J.A. Tan, whose piece “Second Movement” was showcased as part of the exhibition. His inclusion placed his work alongside internationally recognized autistic artists such as Stephen Wiltshire, Gregory Blackstock, Donna Williams, and many others. The exhibit highlighted the diversity of artistic expression within the autism community and emphasized the importance of recognizing autistic voices in global cultural conversations.
The exhibition invited viewers to reconsider assumptions about perception, communication, and sentience. Through painting, drawing, and mixed media, the artists explored themes of identity, emotion, sensory intensity, and the search for calm within chaos. J.A. Tan’s contribution added a distinctive perspective rooted in his ongoing exploration of harmony, movement, and the interplay between inner and outer worlds.
Organized by Strokes of Genius, Inc and endorsed by the United Nations Population Fund, the exhibit underscored a global commitment to inclusion, neurodiversity, and the celebration of autistic creativity. It served as a reminder that art is not only a form of expression but also a bridge — connecting lived experiences across cultures, abilities, and ways of seeing.
Click here to read the article, “Perceptions of Sentience,” on the United Nations website.
