WA Artist With Cerebral Palsy Finds Voice Through Paint

Six months ago, Colin Hanssen picked up a paintbrush in an art therapy class and discovered something powerful: a voice that didn't need words.

The 31-year-old West Australian artist, who lives with cerebral palsy and is largely non-verbal, uses his wheelchair and right hand to create vibrant abstract paintings. His unique process blends performance with paint, combining earthy tones with bold colors that reflect his life experiences.

The transformation happened quickly. What started as therapy in Albany has turned into a thriving artistic practice that recently earned Hanssen a spot in the Southern Art and Craft Trail, a regional event showcasing local talent.

"This could potentially be his voice," said his mother Wendy Hanssen, reflecting on that first art therapy session. The realization opened a door that had been waiting to swing open.

Hanssen's journey has already defied expectations. Doctors once told his parents he wouldn't survive his first birthday. Thirty-one years later, he's not just surviving but creating art that moves people who encounter it in his rural Redmond studio.

Sunny's Take

Art therapist Serena McLaughlan, who has worked with Hanssen since the beginning, sees visitors drawn immediately to his work. Many of his paintings reflect his time living in Africa, with vast expanses of landscape emerging through color and movement.

"It's the power of art to talk of his lived experience and his stories over words," McLaughlan explained. She points out that art exists in a space beyond language, where drawing, music, and dance communicate what words cannot.

The art world is taking notice. Two Perth gallery representatives have already approached Hanssen about featuring his work in the city. His team is now preparing a collection for his first major Perth exhibition.

For someone who was never expected to reach his first birthday, Hanssen is now preparing to share his voice with audiences across Western Australia.