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My name is Heyon Choi, and I am a senior attending Phillips Academy Andover. Since childhood, I have been guided by two passions - art and supporting chilldren on the autism spectrum. As an American with Korean upbringing and ethnic background, I advocate for Asian, Asian-American and other minority artists on the spectrum.
Over the past nine years, I have served as both a community volunteer and an aspiring art director, supporting children and artists on the autism spectrum. My aim is to promote their exceptional talents, and I have established a broad network within the Korean and Korean-American autism artist communities. A cornerstone of my work involves collaborating with artists on the autism spectrum and curating group exhibitions, workshops, and lectures to showcase the artists and their art to the world, engaging and educating neurotypical audiences.
About the Founder
Visual Art and Film Projects
2023~Ongoing | [Screenwriter, Director] Independent Documentary Film: "Soaring Dreams of Threadbare Socks" | Various locations, Korea |
Sep 2024 | [Director, Curator, Presenter] Online Group Exhibition: "Empowering Creativity: Celebrating Autistic Artistry" at Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2024 | Stanford, CA |
Aug~Oct 2024 | [Director, Curator] Global Online Exhibition: "Celebrating World Animal Day" | Online |
July~Sep 2024 | [Director, Curator] Special Exhibition at KITA (Korea International Trade Association) | Washington, D.C. |
July~Sep 2024 | [Director, Curator] Special Exhibition at KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) | Washington, D.C. |
Jun~Jul 2024 | [Director, Curator, Lecturer] "Freedom, Liberty & Independence: Celebrating Independence Day with Autistic Artists" Exhibition at Cambridge Public Library | Cambridge, MA |
Jun 2024 | [Director, Curator] "Autism Pride: Honorable Autistic Artists Exhibition" at William V. Musto Cultural Center | Union City, NJ |
Jan 2024 | [Director, Curator, Lecturer] "Unity through Art: Celebrating MLK Day with Autistic Artists" Exhibition at Cambridge Public Library | Cambridge, MA |
Independent Research Projects
Jan~Aug 2024 | "The Desynchronized Evolution of Justice and Ethos: A Cross-cultural Comparison of the Legal and Social Development of Autism in South Korea and the United States" | The Concord Review (under review) |
May 2024~Jan 2025 | "Myth-Busting Autism Art: Challenging Stereotypes in Creativity and Expression" | MLK Scholar Fellowship (Phillips Academy Andover) |
Aug 2024 | "Challenges in Reconciling Neurodiversity with Overmedicalization of Autistic Individuals: Education and Tailored Learning Approaches to Bridge the Gap" | ICERI 2024, JYEM/NY-CSEF 2024 (Finalist) |
Nov 2023 | "Brushstrokes of Change: Hieronymus Bosch and Rachel Gadsden’s Evolving Portrayals of Disability" | Journal of Student Research (Published Vol. 13 Issue 2 (2024)) |
Ongoing | "Roles of non-profit organizations in addressing employment disparities" |
Community Engagement
Dec 2023~Ongoing | [Researcher, Advisor] Conducted onsite researech and developed initiatives for enhancing gallery accesibility and experience for visitors with ASD, for the Addison Gallery | Andover, MA |
Nov 2023~Ongoing | [Researcher, Advisor] Conducted onsite research and designed inititiaves for enhancing museum accessibility and experience for visitors with ASD, for Brigham Young University Museum of Arts | Provo, UT |
Aug 2024~Ongoing | [Illustrator, Collaborator] Co-published poetry book with autistic poet Maxwell Palance | Korea, US |
June 2024 | [Volunteer] Interactive mural project in celebration of Autistic Pride Day 2024 | Daegu, Korea |
Since 2022 | [Designer, Volunteer] Designing and donating logos and merchandise for KASEC (Korean American Special Education Center) | Anaheim, CA |
Since 2022 | [Designer, Volunteer] Designing and donating logos and merchandise for The SOOP (center for developmental disabilities) | Buford, GA |
Jan 2024 | [Lecturer, Director] MLK Day workshop and student art exhibition at Phillips Academy Andover | Andover, MA |
Aug 2023 | [Mentor, Volunteer] Workshop with autistic artists and their families at Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023 | Cheongju, Korea |
Aug 2023 | [Exhibition installer, Volunteer] Lush Art Fair special exhibition for young Korean autistic artists | Seoul, Korea |
Jul 2023 | [Exhibition installer, Volunteer] Open gallery for autistic artists at the Asia Hotel Art Fair Busan 2023 | Busan, Korea |
Jun 2023 | [Mentor, Volunteer] Mentored autistic artists at Uh-Wul Art Center, Haengbok Bukgu Cultural Foundation | Daegu, Korea |
2023 | [Mentor, Volunteer] English language support for artists Yi-Jeong Rim | Korea, US |
Jul 2022 | [Exhibition installer, Volunteer] Art exhibition at the Autism Expo 2022 | Seoul, Korea |
Jun 2022 | [Volunteer] Open gallery for autistic artists at the Asia Hotel Art Fair Busan 2022 | Busan, Korea |
Sep 2020 | [Exhibition installer, Volunteer] Supported exhibition set-up for artist Jung-Hwa Choi at 2020 Kangwon Kids Triennale | Hongchun, Korea |
Aug 2020 | [Exhibition installer, Volunteer] Exhibition set-up for artist Suk-Hyun Han at 2020 Kangwon Kids Triennale | Hongchun, Korea |
Jun 2020 | [Exhibition installer, Volunteer] Exhibition for autistic artists at Providence Christian Academy | Seoul, Korea |
Aug 2019 | [Volunteer] Children's program at Busan Museum of Art | Busan, Korea |
Awards & Recognitions
Apr 2023 | Certificat of Recognition from California Legislature Assembly | Awarded for diversity and inclusions through volunteer service at KASEC |
Jun 2024 | New Jersey Senate Citation | Awarded for community impact through Autism Pride Day exhibition |
Dec 2021~Sep 2023 | Celebrating Art | High Merit Awards |
Apr 2022, Apr 2023 | Discover Fine and Applied Arts Competition | Honorable Mention |
Feb 2024 | Scholastic Art & Writing Competition | National Silver Key ('23), Regional Gold Keys ('24), Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions |
Jun 2023 | Applied Arts Awards | Student Awards |
Jun 2023, Jun 2024 | Genius Olympiad Art Competition | Gold Awards |
Oct 2023 | American Art Awards | First Place |
Mar 2024 | The National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition | Val Cushing Teaching Award |
May 2024 | Science Without Borders Challenge | Semi-finalist |
Aug 2024 | Art as Activism Poster Contest | 2nd Place, Honorable Mention |
Snapshots of My Journey
Sep 2024
Palo Alto, CA
Curated, Directed, and Presented an Online Group Exhibition:
"Empowering Creativity: Celebrating Autistic Artistry" at
Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2024
Sep 2024
Buena Park, CA
Designed and Donated Scarves to
KASEC (Korean American Speical Education Center)
Aug 2024
Multiple locations, Korea
Directing "Soaring Dreams of Threadbare Socks"
An Independent Documentary Film for Autism Advocacy
Aug 2024
Korea and the US
Co-published a Poetry Book with autistic Poet Maxwell Palance
Jul 2024
Washington, D.C.
Organized a Special Exhibition for KITA (Korea International Trade Association)
Organized a Special Exhibition for
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)
Jul 2024
Washington, D.C.
Jun~Jul 2024
Cambridge, MA
Curated and Directed Freedom, Liberty & Independence Exhibition and Delivered an Art Workshop and Lecture at the Cambridge Public Library
Jun 2024
Daegu, Korea
Volunteered at an Iteractive Mural Project with Autistic Artists
Autistic Pride Day
Jun 2024
Union City, NJ
Curated and Directed Autism Pride Day Exhibition and Delivered a Lecture
at William V. Musto Cultural Center
Jan 2024
Andover, MA
Led MLK Day Workshop and Student Art Exhibition
at Phillips Academy Andover
Visited Studio Art Center at Gateway Arts
Jan 2024
Brookliine, MA
Jan 2024
Cambridge, MA
Curated and Directed MLK Day Exhibition and Delivered an Art Workshop and Lecture at the Cambridge Public Library
Facilitated a Gathering with Korean Autistic Artists and Parents at an Art Studio
Aug 2023
Seoul, Korea
Aug 2023
Seoul, Korea
Volunteered as Exhibition Installer
at Lush Art Fair Special Exhibition for Young Korea Autistic Artists
Volunteered and Mentored at a Craft Workshop
at Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023
Aug 2023
Cheongju, Korea
Jul 2023
Busan, Korea
Volunteered as Exhibition Installer at an Open Gallery for Autistic Artists
at Asia Hotel Art Fair Busan 2023
Jun 2023
Daegu, Korea
Facilitated a Mentoring Program for Autistic Artists
at Uh-Wul Art Center, Haengbok Bukgu Cultural Foundation
Volunteered as Exhibition Installer at Autism Expo 2022
Jul 2022
Seoul, Korea
Jun 2022
Busan, Korea
Volunteered as Exhibition Installer at an Open Gallery for Autistic Artists
at Asia Hotel Art Fair Busan 2022
Sep 2020
Hongchun, Korea
Supported Exhibition Installation for Artist Jung-Hwa Choi
at 2020 Kangwon Kids Triennale
Supported Exhibition Installation for Artist Suk-Hyun Han
at 2020 Kangwon Kids Triennale
Aug 2020
Hongchun, Korea
Jun 2020
Seoul, Korea
Volunteered to Support Exhibition Installation for an Autistic Artist
at Providence Christian Academy
Aug 2019
Busan, Korea
Volunteered at a Children's Art Program
at Busan Museum of Art
Aug 2019
Busan, Korea
Visited the Autism Collaboration Exhibition
at KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)
Sep 2013
Seoul, Korea
Volunteered at a Mural Installation
Visiting Exhibitions in Art Museums and Galleries
2013~2014
Seoul, Korea