Beyond Labels: How Lauren Pearce and Neurodivergent Artists Are Reframing Contemporary Art

At Framed Gallery, we believe art is more than a visual experience—it is a deeply personal, sensory, and emotional one. This September, we are proud to feature the work of Lauren Pearce, an artist whose layered, intuitive practice embodies the transformative power of neurodivergent creativity.

 

Across the contemporary art world, neurodivergent artists—those who identify as autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or otherwise neurologically distinct—are gaining overdue recognition for their groundbreaking contributions. From Marlon Mullen’s nonverbal, richly textured paintings to Nnena Kalu’s cocoon-like sculptures made from humble materials, these artists expand how we understand creativity itself.

 

Lauren Pearce’s art fits powerfully within this larger conversation. Her portraits of Black women and femme-presenting figures are alive with texture, pattern, and story. In works like Fierce with Fire (2025) and Where I Found the Whisper (2025), Pearce builds her subjects from intricate collages of painted and cut materials, each layer adding depth, history, and presence.

 

 

 

 

This willingness to relinquish rigid control, to follow intuition and sensory cues, is a hallmark of many neurodivergent artists. Rather than prioritizing a linear, pre-planned approach, their work often emerges organically—guided by instinct, hyper-awareness of detail, and an emotional connection to materials.

 

Neurodivergent artists also tend to push boundaries in how art is experienced. Some create highly tactile pieces, others emphasize immersive environments, and many—like Pearce—use repetition, color, and texture in ways that resonate on a sensory level. Their work invites us not just to look, but to feel.

 

Pearce’s art also speaks to something broader: the reclamation of identity and narrative. Her portraits center Black women as powerful, divine, and deeply human—challenging stereotypes and rewriting the stories told about them. This dual focus on personal and cultural identity, filtered through her neurodivergent lens, results in work that feels both intimate and universal.

 

The larger art world is beginning to catch up. Marlon Mullen’s solo show at MoMA in 2024, Nnena Kalu’s Turner Prize nomination, and collectives like ActionSpace in London are bringing neurodivergent artists to the forefront. Their practices are not just valid but visionary—reminding us that there is no single way to create, to see, or to tell a story.

 

At Framed Gallery, we are honored to exhibit Lauren Pearce’s work and to stand alongside artists redefining the contemporary art landscape. As Pearce’s work reminds us, art is not about fitting within a frame—it’s about breaking it wide open.

 

We invite you to experience Lauren Pearce’s newest collection at Framed Gallery this September.

Come see, feel, and celebrate the richness of neurodivergent creativity and the stories it makes possible.