Neurodivergent Artist Making Art About Neurodiversity
Artist Statement:
The intent of my practice, whether painting, sculpture or installation is to create work which instigates healthy conversation which will hopefully in turn insight positive societal change regarding acceptance and knowledge of neurodiversity and how we can as a society all find our place together rather than apart or marginalised.
My use of many different grogged, coloured and stoneware clay bodies is to symbolise the diversity of our society and as a celebration of it. I use the rabbit and sometimes other prey animals as a central agent in my work to reference the fight or flight response which is prevalent in many neurodiverse conditions.
Neurodiversity is one of things about the human race that adds a richness to the weave of our species and its cultures, it should be held dear and celebrated in all its wonderful forms.
Inguz - Rabbit Mask - Ceramic
Printing an etching at Art Lab UCLAN
Artist Bio:
Artist Sara Hood from Preston, Lancashire, works predominantly in sculpture, painting, drawing and print. Sometimes these are one off pieces, sometimes a series around a particular theme or line of enquiry and other times the work culminates in installations where the different elements combine to create a greater dialogue and a more immersive experience for the audience.
Sara was born with the neurodiversity’s autism and dyslexia which run in her family, she then at the ages of 17 and 18 went through two events which led to her developing and ultimately being diagnosed with PTSD which is an acquired neurodiversity changing the brains functionality and wiring for want of a better analogy. This (being at an age before the brain had finished developing) led to her also developing the symptoms of ADHD. Living with these neuro complexities is what all of her work revolves around, that and using her work to promote knowledge and dispel fear and shame of living with them for others. Her hope is that through her work she can help to bring around positive societal change leading to less marginalisation and more acceptance of people as they are rather than being urged to change to ‘fit in’ Her belief is that neurodiversity is a beautiful thing and should be celebrated. The rabbit often appears in her work as the central agent both as a reference to herself as a neurodiverse person who was born in the zodiac year of the rabbit and also as a reference to the fight, flight and freeze response which is prevalent in prey animals but also commonly overactive in people with neurodiversity's and the cause of most of the negative aspects.
Upcoming
Manchester Ceramics Fair - Exhibiting Artist - March
Artisan Made UK - Trade Show - Exhibiting Artist - March
Revive and Reimagine - Creative Art/Life Coaching - March
Chews Yard Art and Craft Fair - Exhibiting Artist - April
Mudfest, Ceramics Fair - Ulverston - Exhibiting Artist - May
Celebrating Ceramics - Waterperry Gardens - Exhibiting Artist - July
Henley County Craft Show - Exhibiting Artist - August
2025
Chews Yard Art and Craft Fair Exhibiting Artist February
Under The Bed Sale Cupola Contemporary Art Gallery Exhibiting Artist January - February
2024
Disabled Peoples Collective, Mental Health Exhibition - London - Putney Bridge Exhibiting Artist November
Finding Faces Masterclass Teaching Artist November
Saltaire Inspired Makers Fair Exhibiting Artist October
Preston Makers Market Exhibiting Artist October
Preston Makers Market Exhibiting Artist September
NPA Exhibition - Lytham Heritage Centre Exhibiting Artist July
Potfest In The Pens Spring Exhibiting Artist May
Uclay Exhibition PR1 Gallery Exhibiting Artist April
Glorious Clay Chorley Exhibiting Artist March-April
Under The Bed Sale Cupola Contemporary Art Gallery Exhibiting Artist January-February
2023
Gallery Omnibus, Germany ‘My Animals’ Exhibition Exhibiting Artist November
UCLan MA Degree Show Artist Talk October
UCLan MA Degree Show Exhibiting Artist September - October
Ceramic Wales Exhibiting Artist June
Uclay Exhibition PR1 Gallery Exhibiting Artist May
Under The Bed Sale Cupola Contemporary Art Gallery Exhibiting Artist January - February
2021
Uclan Degree Show Online Exhibition June
ArtBloc Mag Magazine Article June
Art Hole Magazine Magazine Article March Issue
Micro Exhibition, New Haus Gallery Exhibiting Artist February
Harris Open Exhibition Exhibiting Artist February
Under The Bed Sale Cupola Contemporary Art Gallery Exhibiting Artist January - February
2020
Connections Exhibition, Hanover Exhibiting Artist October
Me, Myself and You Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Gallery Intern March
.Displacement Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Gallery Intern February
Borderline, Exhibition with international artist Emma Preister, Hanover Gallery Gallery Intern January
Saturday Club - Arts Council - Preston UCLan Attending Artist Annual Program
2019
Harris Open Exhibition Exhibiting Artist December
Concomitant - Reboot Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Gallery Intern And Co-Curator December
Concomitant Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Gallery Intern November
? Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Gallery Intern October
A Sense Of Belonging Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Exhibiting Artist and Lead Curator October
Attitudes, Solo Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Exhibiting Artist April
Reason Is An Impasse, Reason Is Damnation, Hanover Gallery Event Team March
Remember When Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Event Team February
Wish In One Hand, Shit In The Other Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Event Team January
National Saturday Club - Arts Council - Preston UCLan Attending Artist Annual Program
2018
Harris Open Exhibition Exhibiting Artist December
Inks and Prints Exhibition, Art Lab Exhibiting Artist December
Hanover Project Presents, Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Event Team November
Making A Statement, Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Event Team October
Headspace Exhibition, Hanover Gallery Event Team October
Moth Migration Project - Exhibited Internationally Exhibiting Artist August
2017
Harris Open Exhibition Exhibiting Artist December
Foundation Arts Award Winner - Lancashire Arts Festival June
Foundation Arts Award Nominee - Lancashire Arts Festival June
Foundation Exhibition UCLan Exhibiting Artist June
Interview with Artist Garth Gratrix Interviewer May