Johnny Profane Knapp

Someone Once Said...
"Surrealism is just art for English Majors." Might've been me.
¯\(ツ)/¯

I'm Johnny Knapp Profane Âû, a 70-year-old pretend rock star turned digital artist.

Why "pretend"? Because life's all cosplay, my friend. Intrigued? You can make my work your own...

The Origin Story
Born in 1953, I came into the world before autism was even a blip on the medical radar. I've seen it all, from the dawn of autism awareness to its current place in pop culture.

A Voice for Neurodivergent Art
In 2023, my art caught the eye of the United Nations, landing me a spot on their Autism Awareness Day panel. Curious? Watch the UN video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kx_PuJMaOc.

The Autistic Mind: My Creative Engine
Like Temple Grandin, I think in images—no, scratch that, I think in movies. Dialog, sensory details, locations, even the quality of sunlight, it's all there in my mind's eye. This isn't something all autists experience, but many do.

My art clusters these related images, reflecting the unique grammar of my autistic mind... much like the language of movies.

If you're autistic, you might feel seen for the first time. If you know or love someone who's autistic, my art could be your window into their world.

The Man...

MA, Columbia University, Modern English Literature