Artist Draws Manhattan Skyline From Memory

Amazing. 34-year-old British artist, Stephen Wiltshire, who was diagnosed with autism at an early age, is currently taking residence at Pratt to do what he does best: draw. But not just draw; the artist is creating a detailed panorama of New York's skyline from memory, after only briefly visiting the city and taking it all in from a helicopter. He has done this around the world, 8 times in total, and says this is his finale.

The panorama will be 18-feet-long, and Pratt tells us that from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day this week, anyone can come in and see the work in progress. He hopes to be done by Friday, and if you stop by, send us your pictures. In the meantime, get to know the artist in the below video from this morning's CBS Early Show.

Wiltshire's sister, Annette, says her brother "can keep memories for years, recalling the same buildings again and again for different works."

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on October 26, 2009 4:13 PM

Comments [rss]

famdoc

The Brits have a thing for autistic artists.

There's another guy who sculpts plastic scenes so small they are mounted on the head of a pin and must be viewed with a magnifying glass. http://www.willard-wigan.com

And what about the Texas-based artist and musician who was the subject of a documentary a few years back? He makes a load of money by drawing simple figures saying sophisticated things like "Hello, how are you?" His music is similarly painful.

Guest

I saw that micro guy's work at the end of an ABC News segment. His stuff is completely amazing.

Jen S

The Devil and Daniel Johnston? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436231/

meechybee

Awesome. I bought one his books "Floating Cities" when I was in London years ago. He's got this book listed on his website for 130 pounds when you can still get it on the web for about $15. I guess Pratt must be expensive!

Daveon8th

Amazing indeed.

Almost as amazing as the fact that Jen Carlson might have the record for "earliest appearance of a factual error in a story on Gothamist." One word and then a mistake! Steven is 35, not 34, a fact that required 30 seconds of research. Amazing.