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Justin Canha is a 16-year-old with high-functioning autism. He is also an artist.
While growing up, Justin's verbal skills were compromised and his drawings were used as a means of expression and a basis for interaction. Now he enjoys talking about his artwork—especially his comics—with anyone who is interested.
Over the years, his art expanded to include still-life drawing, landscapes, portraits, and buildings in a variety of media, including watercolors, pastel, charcoal, and oils. He also taught himself how to create computer animations. The artwork showcases his sense of humor and sensitivity to human and animal relationships; his computer animations feature action-packed stories with original characters.
Justin's innate artistic ability caught the attention of the art community and he is now represented by the Ricco Maresca Gallery in New York City, where he was a featured artist in the gallery's January 2005 Autism/Asperger's Art Exhibit. He also was featured in the August 2006 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.
Justin lives in Montclair, NJ, and attends Renaissance Middle School, a public magnet school that focuses on arts and sciences. Justin's art can be viewed on his Web site at www.justinart.com.
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