Exploring Identity and Access Through Sensory-Inspired Art, Autistic Women and Public Space
I am delighted to share that I will be creating a new body of work comprising screen prints and artist books, thanks to the generous support of the Creative Practice Research Academy (CPRA) grant. This project will explore the profound impact of heightened sensory processing on women’s identity and how it influences their access to, and engagement with, public spaces.
Through this work, I aim to ignite important conversations surrounding disability, public access, and gender. My creative practice acts as visual elicitation—a means of sparking dialogue. To inform the project, I have begun engaging with autistic women via my social media platforms, inviting them to share their experiences of ‘otherness’ in social spaces. These candid and often deeply personal perspectives are shaping both the aesthetics of the prints and artist books and the overall direction of the project.
By posing open questions, I hope to challenge conventional thinking about accessibility and the role of visual language in research. This interactive exchange enables the inclusion of diverse voices, fostering a richer, more inclusive dialogue.
The CPRA’s ethos aligns perfectly with my approach. The organisation brings together researchers at all stages of their careers, from students to senior academics, creating a culture of collaboration, support, and critical engagement. They recognise the importance of creative practice research in opening new conversations and advancing debates around Autistic Women and Public Space. As CPRA beautifully states:
“As creative practice researchers, we recognise the importance of everyone who contributes to the field, opening up new conversations and furthering existing debates.”
Through printmaking, I examine how heightened sensory experiences influence identity and access, reframing public spaces as sites of connection and challenge. Through visual art, I aim to create meaningful opportunities for reflection and discussion about the urban environment’s role in shaping sensory and social experiences.
A heartfelt thank you to the CPRA team for supporting this vision and enabling this work to come to life. I am excited to share this journey with you and hope it sparks vital conversations about sensory processing, identity, and urban environments.
Check out more of my printmaking here.
