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Seth Chwast, who was diagnosed with autism as a very young child, lived for years in a world of roller coasters, haunted houses, and classical music. A dramatic change came in 2003, when at age 20 he took an oil painting class at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Seth, who rarely speaks, began describing his world in paint. It turned out that he has an innate ability to mix colors and create amazing works of art that reflect his vision of his world and the world around him.

Because of his autism, Seth is unable to be anything but direct, honest, and authentic. Humming, dancing and smiling to his own muse as he paints, Seth is a vision of happiness. Brilliantly colored canvasses give him a strong and clear visual voice, and painting is obviously his path to bliss. His sense of joy, which permeates his art, is contagious.

Seth’s paintings reveal a true gift for color and form. Through passionate discipline, he continues to evolve as an artist. Painting diverse imagery ranging from many-colored horses and spectacular landscapes with aurora skies and mysterious forests to rainforests, whales, fish, mythological animals, exotic birds, and iconic imagery of Manhattan, Seth finds new inspiration everywhere. His early obsession with horses and his love of repetition has translated into immense color grids of horses, and his self-studies provide further access to his world. His innate talent and curiosity about the world continually amazes his audience, and he and his work appear to have no limits.

Seth’s art is getting noticed. Relatively new to the artistic world, his paintings captivated the public even before he was willing to sell any of his work. His story has been featured on National Public Radio, PBS, and NBC’s Today Show, with the latter laying out an interesting comparison alongside the great master Van Gogh and Chagall. Art professor and former curator for The Cleveland Museum of Art, Michael Cunningham, said, “I’ve seen art that has ‘names’ attached to it that I don’t get excited about he way I do about some of the things that Seth doesn’t.” He has been extended a special invitation to participate in the Art Omi International Artists Residency in Columbia County, New York, scheduled for July, 2008.

As interest in his art gained further momentum, Seth began to sell his work. His paintings have now been purchased and commissioned by prominent art collectors and loyal patrons. His art is included in many prestigious collections including the collections of The Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve’s University Hospitals, The Cleveland Foundation, The Francis J. Greenburger Collection in New York and important collections in Nashville, Aspen, and San Francisco. Seth is currently working in New York City with accomplished artist Kip Frace, creating Manhattan cityscape paintings and mobiles, commissioned by Perry Finkelman, Managing Director of The American Development Group for the lobbies of a series of luxury condominiums in NYC. After visiting the Galapagos in November 2007, Seth was invited to exhibit at the John Madejski Gallery at the Royal Palm on Santa Cruz, Galapagos. He will return there for his first international opening on March 28, 2008.

Seth, now 24, paints daily and has filled his entire home with art—spectacular landscapes with aurora skies and mysterious forests to magical worlds populated with birds, whales, griffins and Pegasus. Horses are his favorite subject, and in his most recent paintings, they stand tall and proud and look viewers directly in the eye. Each of these astounding paintings have a special way of making viewers feel the same way Seth does when he creates them. In his own words, handwritten on the back of each painting, Seth eloquently communicates: “I feel Happy. You are excited. I am excited. I am surprised. I am calm. I am Proud.”

On December 10, Seth was filmed for a second time by NBC’s Today Show, which aired on New Years Day 2008.

Seth Chwast is autistic. He cannot safely cross the street. Moms of autistic children know Seth is autistic in 30 seconds. And they know his art is moving in 30 seconds. They fill with joy and with hope for their child. He crossed the equator and moms speaking Spanish were stroking Seth and crying with joy and hope. Seth is an icon for everyone who was in a hopeless position, was invisible and ignored and then exploded into being revealed as the person they truly are. He is autistic and he lives in a state of bliss.

Please visit his Web site at www.sethchwastart.com for the pleasure of seeing his beautiful, joyful art.

View the “TODAY” Show video and the documentary “A Very Special Journey,” at www.sethchwast.com.

For purchase information and to see a complete portfolio of Seth’s art visit www.reddotproject.org or call 216.664.9600.