The Kimono Lounge, a former church, is a gallery and shop in the home of Sarah Trousdale. She doubles as an art therapy teacher, and her gallery is a space for people of all abilities.

Colpo, who has autism, is a student of Trousdale’s, and has found art as a way to show his creativity, unique worldview, and love of animals. 

“I think it’s the artistic and not the autistic that you should see when you look at these beautiful works,” Trousdale said. 

“He has a unique way of cropping what he’s seeing; a unique vision that sort of zooms in with these really interesting, idiosyncratic angles. 

“I also think his sense of colour is quite extraordinary.”

The title of the exhibition, I have become bold, is something that Colpo said to Trousdale about his art therapy. 

“It was very sweet, a couple of months ago he said to me, ‘I have become bold,’” Trousdale said.

“I thought, what a beautiful thing for an artist to say.

“Obviously he’s feeling empowered by what he’s doing, and feeling confident. That’s great, you can’t have a nicer statement than ‘I have become bold.’”

Damian Colpo’s works will be showing at the Kimono Lounge until December 1, free entry, with all paintings for sale.