A Montreal art program for neurodiverse adults, called Art Seen, is preparing for an exhibition at the McClure Gallery from June 12 to 22, 2025. The program, run in partnership between the Visual Arts Centre and the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) at the Wagar Adult Education Centre, provides studio space and training in painting, printing, cartooning, and collage. Students like Victoria McIntosh, Matthew Brotherwood, Lisa Potter, Juliette Plamondon, and Jonathan Pepin are creating works for the show, which includes a theme titled 'the reconstructed' that involves repurposing old art history books to assert their place in the narrative.
The exhibition matters because it challenges the historical exclusion of neurodiverse artists from mainstream art history and provides participants with professional skills to build independent art careers. Program lead Anna Persichilli emphasizes that the initiative also teaches social and work skills, fostering independence through real-world tasks like shopping and ordering coffee in the Westmount neighborhood. By centering inclusion and self-representation, the show aims to redefine who gets to be part of art history and to solidify the artists' paths as working creatives.