Good News Story: Alexander
Alexander is a young artist with autism who joined Pyramid at the end of 2023. He now spends two mornings a week in Development Team sessions with artist facilitator Leigh, and also attends the Next Step Pyramid group.
Throughout his life, Alexander has used art as a tool to express himself and to share his perspectives and ideas of the world. His artwork is often based on television or video game characters, but he also enjoys drawing animals, birds and vehicles in his own distinctive style. Alexander often weaves lively narratives around the characters that he creates.
Alexander is lucky to be from a supportive and caring family, but they have often struggled to find accessible spaces and services which fit with his personal needs. Much current provision for adults with autism encourages them to attend “access to work” placements that are not necessarily suited to the needs of people like Alexander. Alexander would love to forge a career in the arts but would struggle to cope with traditional routes into this, such as a college or a university course.
“As well as expanding his artistic abilities, the social and communication skills Alexander is acquiring in Pyramid’s safe and supportive environment are boosting his self-esteem and equipping him with increased independence for the future. I genuinely believe Alexander has developed faster across a range of skills during his time at Pyramid than at any other life stage. Pyramid not only addresses Alexander’s needs but identifies his strengths and captures his talents. With their help, he is starting to forge a career in the arts, which has been his lifelong ambition!” – Lynn, Alexander’s mum
Since coming to Pyramid, Alexander has made a great deal of progress in his arts practice and the skills that he has developed. He has experimented with a wide range of mediums including 3D printing, sculpture and painting, as well as filling many sketchbooks and creating numerous paintings which are quickly taking over the Pyramid studio! He has created items which have been sold in both Pyramid Art Markets and the Pyramid online shop and now has his artwork on display at a local social enterprise called Seagulls Reuse. He has designed a bespoke range of seagull themed merchandise which is available to buy in the Seagull’s shop!
Furthermore, Alexander’s confidence and social skills have increased rapidly since attending Pyramid. When he first visited, he was nervous to interact with other members and preferred to work in a separate room away from the busy studio. Now Alexander is popular with his peers who admire his art and love hearing the stories that he tells them. Alexander will often work in a busy studio full of people and collaborate on bigger art pieces. He has attended Pyramid trips to art studios throughout the North of England and recently visited Seagulls to hang his own artwork.
