Daniel Bartholomaeus is a 21-year-old artist with an innate ability to inspire and motivate others, especially within the neurodivergent community.
Daniel, who has autism and ADHD, hasn’t had an easy time. He’s had anxiety since he was young and school was challenging, contributing to him developing depression. In 2022, even though his portfolio had just won him a place at university, his mental health was at its lowest point.
Today, Daniel is a mentor with The With Friends Initiative, a social group for neurodivergent young people, and has worked with Daydream Machine, the National Gallery of Australia and the United Nations to help young people realise that it’s not about what you can’t do, but what you can do.
Daniel uses his art for self-expression, but also to forge common pathways for people with mental ill-health and those of different abilities, bridging the gap between neurotypical and neurodivergent people.