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Biography

“My vision is colour. My heartbeat is rhyme. My mind expands with bursts of line, shape, and form. Art imbues each moment of life, every cell of my being. My hands tell my stories as I connect with humanity and explore meaning through creativity and art. The voyage continues.”

Mahlia Amatina
Painting 'Bus Journey I'

Visionary artist Mahlia Amatina invites you into a multi-sensory experience of colour, line, shape and form through tactile art that explores the creative side of neurodiversity. Drawing inspiration from the varied landscapes and rich flavours of her international roots and global travels, Mahlia’s visual vocabulary creates a narrative through abstraction. Using acrylic paint, oil sticks, Indian ink, and all manner of mixed media on paper and canvas, Mahlia explodes through traditional boundaries of style and purpose.

After being diagnosed with autism in 2015, Mahlia was inspired to share the unique sensory experiences of life on the autism spectrum through her art. Working around the theme of neurodiversity, Mahlia has transformed her signature style of abstract colourism into a unique, interactive, multi-sensory experience that invites viewers to engage on a level that works for them.

Her mission includes creating communities through the combination of art and advocacy around the globe. She has undertaken residencies, and had her works displayed in both fine art and community venues in seven countries, as she pushes for artwork to be experienced by a wider variety of audiences.

Mahlia has been awarded Arts Council England (ACE) funding several times, including the ‘Developing your Creative Practice’ fund. She has been featured as one of the Top 50 Influential Neurodiverse Women by Women Beyond the Box and is one of Scope's selected artists. Available for talks and collaborative art projects, Mahlia also has a special interest in autism and the workplace and building neurodivergent-friendly workspaces.

Key Solo Exhibitions

2022 / Neurodiversity at Oxford / Oxford University (St Anne's College)

2021 / Different Perceptions / Salisbury Arts Centre

2021 / Life on a Spectrum / Riverside Arts Barn (Kingston) & Allen Gallery (Hampshire) - online

2020 / Life on a Spectrum / The Free Space Project / Kentish Town Health Centre - online

2019 / Life on a Spectrum / South Hill Park (Bracknell)

2017 - 2019 /  On a Spectrum - an Exploration of Asperger's Syndrome / Berkshire Hospitals 

2017 / Around the World in 80 Washing Lines / Riverside Museum (Reading), The Curve (Slough), Menier Gallery (London),

2016 / On a Spectrum - an Exploration of Asperger's Syndrome / The Peacock Gallery (Reading)

2015 / Kathmandu Calling / Watlington House and Jelly (Reading)

Select Group Shows

2022 / Perspectives / The Quarter / The Asylum Gallery (Wolverhampton)

2021 / Born with it / The Minories Gallery (Colchester)

2020 / Different Perspectives / Bloomsbury Festival - online

2020 / Art of Caring / St George's Hospital (London)

2018 / Con Artist Collective Residency Show (New York)

2018 / Coaction / The Dora Stern Gallery (NJ, USA)

2018 / L'alquimia Feminina / Espa-B Galleria (Barcelona)

2017 / Hannacc Artist Residency Show (Barcelona)

2017 / #Imagine 21 / American Airline Exhibition (USA)

2016 / One Square Foot / Hermitage Gallery (Amsterdam)

Grants and Awards

2023 / In Focus Digital Commission / Photoworks

2022 / Unlimited Partner Award / British Arts Council

2021 / Developing your Creative Practice Grant / Arts Council England

2021 / Funding to Exhibiting Art Online / Attenborough Arts Centre

2020 / Life on a Spectrum / Creative Wellbeing Commission / The Free Space Project
2020 / Emergency Funding for Covid-19 / Arts Council England
2019 / Top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women / Women Beyond The Box
2018 / Developing your Creative Practice Grant / Arts Council England
2018 / Winner of ‘Best Education Project’ / Reading Cultural Awards
2017 / Grants for the Arts Funding / Arts Council England
2016 / Art in Unusual Places Award / Reading Year of Culture Winner 
2015 / UK Trust Awards Finalist

Residencies

2018 / Con Artist Collective / New York City, USA
2017 / Hannacc Artist Residency / Barcelona, Spain

Collections

2019 - 2023 / Ashurst Corporate Collection Loan
2019 / Investec Corporate Collection

Select Talks

2023 / International Women's Day Talk (Art and Autism), Liberty's of London

2022 / Employment Autism Conference, Southbank University
2022 / Glastonbury Festival, Left Field, ‘Neurodiversity: The Fight for Human Rights’

2021 / NHS England Prevention and Avoidance Programs Webinar, Transitioning from Childhood to Adulthood

2020 / Birkbeck University, Neurodiversity conference, panellist on ‘Neurofugitive, Neurodiverse, and Shy Creativity’

2020 / National Autistic Society, Professionals Conference, Birmingham ICC, Panellist for ‘Autism, Ethnicity and Culture’ and ‘Diagnosis and Identity’

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