Devya Asmi

DJ is a 10-year-old girl who has loved drawing for as long as we can remember. Diagnosed with autism at 2, she spoke her first word at 2.5. She has functional language, meaning she can communicate her needs, but it’s not fully developed—often, instead of asking for food, she’ll search for something she wants, like cupcakes or noodles. As she becomes more independent, we’ve noticed her language skills slowly declining, as she prefers to find things herself rather than verbalizing her needs.

​

DJ finds it challenging to express her emotions verbally, and we often see her either giggling uncontrollably or crying out loud, making it difficult to gauge how she feels. Drawing has always been a major outlet for her. Her early art initiation began on the walls of our home, much to our joy when we first recognized her scribbles. Soon, every wall was adorned with her artwork before she transitioned to drawing on paper.

​

Her art tends to follow phases, where, in any given month, her drawings focus on a consistent theme. We believe her artwork is her way of expressing herself, but just like with her speech, it can be difficult for us to fully grasp what she’s trying to convey. DJ has a unique approach to drawing people, capturing emotions in her characters, even though she struggles with expressing her own.

​

She also has a growing interest in fashion, frequently dressing up in makeshift outfits created from household items, like two bedsheets tied together to resemble a princess dress. This love of fashion comes through in her drawings, with intricate patterns and creative costumes. Almost everything she draws is animated—whether it’s hearts, boxes, or houses, they all have faces with distinct expressions.

​

Most of her artwork gets damaged because she incorporates it into her play, turning it into things like pouches or pillows. This site is our way of preserving her work and sharing her unique, expressive art with the world.