Through Different Minds: An Artistic Dialogue on Neurodiversity

Piece written for MCA 250: Reporting and Reviewing the Arts, Taught by Ronald Shachter and Monica Sager at Clark University

Each year, ArtsWorcester presents Shoeboxes, an opportunity for artists to create compact installations or showcase a focused body of work. The East Gallery is divided into smaller spaces, each dedicated to a single artist, as a format ideal for site-specific installations or series that might not fill an entire gallery.

The 2025 edition features four artists exploring themes ranging from photography inspired by fairytales to multimedia tributes to women. But one corner immediately commands attention. A medium-sized square canvas draws the eye—at its center, a large, light-brown brain encircled by leaves and faintly printed bee panels.

What’s behind this striking image?

While Autism and ADHD often overlap, each presents distinct traits that shape perception, cognition, and artistic expression. Painter Karin Cloutier and relief printmaker Morgan Tartakoff, friends and neighbors from Uxbridge, MA, use their art to illustrate these neurological differences in Embracing Neurodiversity. Cloutier, who has ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), embraces abstraction and spontaneity, while Tartakoff, who is Autistic, creates slow, deliberate, and highly detailed works.

This showcase is a dialogue between two different artistic approaches, shaped by their respective neurodivergences. While diagnoses manifest uniquely for each person, Cloutier and Tartakoff’s works display a stark contrast in style, composition, and process. Their pieces embody how the Neurodiversity experience feels in the brain and influences daily life.

Their pieces reflect these contrasts vividly. In Autism: Between the Folds of My Brain, Tartakoff’s meticulous carving presents a highly detailed and structured interpretation of the brain, packed with scientific accuracy. Besides it, Cloutier’s ADHD: You Figure It Out. is a chaotic burst of color, with words like Input and Processing scattered throughout—mirroring the non-linear nature of ADHD cognition.

As I stood before the works, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences. Professor Ronald Schachter, who was also present, shared a personal anecdote:

"My daughter attended a school for neurodivergent children. After her first day, she told me, ‘Dad, here we don’t call it ADHD—we call it ADOS: Attention Deficit Oh Shiny!’”

Diagnosed with ADHD at 20, I was drawn to Cloutier’s expressive brain. The planned, structured version felt too restrained; the vibrant abstraction resonated deeply. It was a rare moment of seeing my mind reflected in a gallery—a space where, for once, my so-called "madness" felt like home.

Alice Dillon, Associate Director of ArtsWorcester, explains, "These artists experience the world differently, and their strengths and weaknesses depend on how society is structured. Their collaboration plays off these differences in an unexpected way."

One piece exemplifies this contrast beautifully. Moths are Tartakoff’s special interest—something she hyper-fixates on and talks about for hours. Cloutier is fine with moths, she enjoys nature more broadly. In their collaborative work, Tartakoff’s moths are very realistic, labeled with their proper names and intricate patterns. Cloutier’s are completely imaginary and made up—freeform, colorful, and abstract. The central moth, a fusion of both styles, represents their artistic synergy: methodical yet unrestrained.

In their artist statement, the duo acknowledges the challenges of blending such opposing approaches.

Cloutier shares that, "At first, our differences slowed us down, but over time, we began to influence each other. My work grew more deliberate, while Morgan’s became more abstract. This blending of styles was transformative, reminding us of the value of stepping outside our comfort zones."

Tartakoff adds, "As we embraced our neurodivergent strengths, collaboration opened creative doors we wouldn’t—or couldn’t—have opened alone. This work highlights the importance of diverse thinking."

The exhibit was more than an artistic showcase, it was a powerful reflection of how different minds perceive, process, and create. Embracing Neurodiversity is a testament to the power of different minds to perceive, process, and create in their ways.

To know more about Shoeboxes visit www.artsworcester.org/exhibition/artist-shoeboxes-2025/ To see more of Karin Cloutier: karinvanart.com or follow @karin.vanart on Instagram.

To see more of Morgan Tartakoff: morgantartakoff.etsy.com or follow @littlepebbleprintshop on Instagram.