Blog

“At first, I would share his paintings through social media with family and friends,” his mother, Nina Jain, told CBC Toronto.

“Then people starting offering money to buy them.”

Serious money. Collectors from around the world began offering thousands of dollars to acquire Jain’s work. So far, Jain estimates he’s sold 50 paintings.

“It’s a painting that suggests to me that it would be made by a 50-year-old seasoned painter and we have a 12-year-old autistic boy that this came out of. It’s really extraordinary.”

Artist Niam Jain paintings also caught the eye of Evan Bidell, a well-known Toronto-based fashion designer who hopes to weave the teen’s work into future designs. Bidell, the first winner of Project Runway Canada, hopes to make 10 dresses based on Jain’s art in time for the Fashion Art Toronto in April — a show that coincides with Autism Awareness Month.

“A chance to work with an artist this unique is exciting,” said Biddell.

As part of their collaboration, Biddell recently invited Jain to the Darling Mansion, an 1888 Victorian manor in Toronto’s west end where he keeps a studio space. Jain raced around the mansion, inspecting its eccentric array of artwork, collectibles and curios.

Nina Jain said the attention has been a good thing for her son, and could help others in his position.

“There are so many families out there with autistic kids, and they don’t know what to do next,” she said.

“Showcasing what the potential is … I think is important.”