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ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-10-11 · by Rachel Jennings and Mark Bennett
Colin Hanssen, a 31-year-old artist from Albany, Western Australia, who lives with cerebral palsy and is largely non-verbal, has gained recognition for his abstract paintings that blend performance art. His mother discovered his talent during an art therapy class six months ago, which has since been supported by local curators. Hanssen’s work, featuring vibrant colors and earthy tones, reflects experiences from living in Africa and engaging with expansive landscapes. The artist is preparing to showcase his first collection in Perth galleries following successful participation in the Southern Art and Craft Trail.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Colin Hanssen, a 31-year-old artist from Western Australia, has gained recognition for his paintings despite being born with cerebral palsy and largely non-verbal. He discovered his passion for painting just six months ago during an art therapy class led by Serena McLaughlan. Using his wheelchair and right hand, Hanssen combines performance with abstract artwork, blending vibrant colors to express himself. His mother, Wendy Hanssen, believes this newfound skill could serve as his voice. Recently selected for the Southern Art and Craft Trail, an event showcasing regional talent, Hanssen is preparing his first collection for exhibitions in Perth galleries, exceeding initial expectations.
Written for “Artist Paints Through Cerebral Palsy” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
A West Australian artist who lives with cerebral palsy has caught the attention of art curators across the state.
asserted
who → live → state
Colin Hanssen combines painting with performance to express his lived experience.
What's next?
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What → combine → experience
The 31-year-old is preparing his first collection to be featured in Perth galleries.
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old → prepare → galleries
On a quiet country road on Western Australia's south coast, Colin Hanssen is wrapping up his first exhibition.
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Hanssen → wrap → exhibition
For Hanssen, who was born with cerebral palsy and is largely non-verbal, art has become a vital form of self expression.
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art → bear → expression
The 31-year-old uses his wheelchair and right hand to blend colourful and earthy tones, combining performance with paint to create his abstract pieces.
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old → use → pieces
His mother Wendy Hanssen said the unique skill was realised just six months ago in an art therapy class.
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skill → say → class
"That was when it was brought home that actually this could be an outlet for Colin," she said.
"This could potentially be his voice."
Beating the odds
His recent selection for this year's Southern Art and Craft Trail, an event which highlights talent across the region, shows just how much he has exceeded expectations, according to Ms Hanssen.
uncertain
he → bring → Hanssen
"We went and saw a neurosurgeon who told us to love Colin while we've got him, because he wasn't going to make it to his first birthday," she said.
"
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she → go → birthday
Colin's first birthday came and went, and we knew that we were clearly on the right track.
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we → come → track
"Thirty-one years later, he's still with us, beating the odds left, right and centre."
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he → beat → odds
A pre-verbal medium
Art therapist Serena McLaughlan has worked with Hanssen since he first started painting, and helped to curate the exhibition's collection.
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he → work → collection
"They [visitors] come in and they're just drawn to the work," she said.
"
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she → come → work
They're really interested in the story and fascinated by the process."
She said much of Hanssen's work draws from his time living in Africa.
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much → fascinate → Africa
"Engaging with vast expanses of landscape is a lived experience that comes through in the painting," she said.
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she → engage → painting
"It's the power of art to talk of his lived experience and his stories over words.
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It → talk → words
With the Art Trail completed, the team now has its sights set on the city.
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sights → complete → city
"We've had two people, two artists from different galleries in Perth, asking if Colin will exhibit with them," Ms Hanssen said.
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Hanssen → have → them
"We're going to look at getting a series done."
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series → go → ?
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