Autistic and epileptic Raglan artist to get artwork to United Nations in New York

Raglan artist Yaniv Janson will exhibit his paintings at the United Nations in New York in June. Photo / Tracie Heasman, Uno magazine

Living with autism and epilepsy did not stand in the way of Raglan artist Yaniv Janson achieving his dream of getting to exhibit his work at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters.

Janson's 10-piece exhibition, Please Do Touch, will be on display in New York through June during the UN's annual meeting for the rights of people with disabilities.

The idea of Please Do Touch came from Janson's want to let people experience art through different senses and to push what has and has not been done in the art world.

"I come up with my own ideas and I feel like I'm different from other artists, I can be myself through art," he said.

Please Do Touch aimed to break traditional boundaries between disability and art, inviting people to engage using all their senses.

"It's different from what other artists do because who else can you think about that wants people to touch their art? Can you think of any other artists?"

It came after last year when Janson got a personal invitation to a conference by the Crown Prince of Montenegro where he then displayed his collection.

Janson also received a grant from Creative New Zealand last year to fund two trips to Europe, where he exhibited work in Montenegro and the Unesco headquarters in Paris.

Janson has won more than 18 awards, participated in more than 40 exhibitions and sold more than 160 paintings.

Janson began painting 11 years ago.

He created his work from home and loved the freedom it brought him.

"I can paint as much as I decide, and I can choose what I want to paint, plus it's something that can go all around the world."

He has been a finalist for the Wallace Art Awards, the National Contemporary Arts Award and the National Youth Art Awards.

The exhibition runs from June 11 to 14, the same time as the annual UN meeting for the rights of people with disabilities.