About the Artist

Cecilia Burns-Hansen

Drawing with crayons and pastels is a calming activity for me. Despite investing significant effort in my artwork, there are moments when I leave pieces unfinished. At 31 years old and nonverbal, I rely on my mom to type this for me. Although I sometimes use Facilitated Communication, there are days when I simply don't feel up to it. I reside in a group home alongside three other individuals, supported by wonderful caregivers. My life with significant autism has been largely without spoken words, having uttered just 15 in my lifetime. This makes drawing exceptionally valuable to me; it's how I share my energy with the world. In addition to drawing, I paint, and my artwork is cherished in homes across Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Clarksburg, MD, and Barcelona.