Neurodivergence in Art | Disrupting Shame with Claire Morgan

Ceri interviews internationally acclaimed artist Claire Morgan, who faced challenges growing up in Northern Ireland with undiagnosed Tourette's and autism. Claire shares how recent diagnoses in her 30s and 40s have shaped her life, confirming her unique strengths that enable ambitious, impactful artwork and a sustainable career. She provides insights on how the art world could better support neurodivergent artists and reflects on advice she'd give her younger self. Claire also talks about her creative process, use of potent materials, collaborating with a live model, risk-taking with new work, reactions to her raw, bold exhibitions, and more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Diagnoses in her 30s/40s helped Claire understand her skills and "superpowers" that drive her prolific artwork
• Claire thinks the art world could provide more transparency about needs/offerings to better support neurodivergent artists
• She works across public commissions and commercial gallery representation to sustain her practice
• Her process involves extensive drawing, writing, connecting words and shapes, and playing with new materials
• Collaborating with a live model enabled emotive drawings conveying fragility and vulnerability
• Recent liberating exhibitions with challenging themes prompted strong reactions confirming her direction
• She would advise her younger self to reject shame, realise her differences are assets, and that ideas come through living, not forcing

BEST MOMENTS

 "I had such intense messaging as a kid and a neurodivergent girl, that I was wrong or broken, which in hindsight I think is bullshit."

"If I presented a really small drawing in an atrium space of a museum, it probably wouldn’t really work."

"Whenever I get into a project or a body of work, I do kind of switch off completely everything else."

"I felt like I was going to be sick before they opened it and it was awful."

PODCAST HOST BIO

Meet Ceri Hand, the driving force behind countless creative success stories. A creative coach, entrepreneur, and dynamic speaker, she's committed to empowering creatives to realise their dreams and make a meaningful impact through her creative coaching, mentoring and training company. With three decades in the arts under her belt, Ceri has ridden the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Now, she's here to help you achieve your goals, your way.

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