Clara Woods

Clara Woods is a successful and inspiring teen artist and entrepreneur. Before Clara was born she suffered brain damage from a prenatal stroke in her mother’s womb. As a result she is not able to speak or write, but has not let that stop her from sharing her thoughts with the world. Clara has created a voice for herself in the arts and is using it to challenge stereotypes and create inclusivity for people with disabilities.

Clara’s parents discovered her enthusiasm for painting when she was a small child living in Florence, Italy. Her father read to her each morning after breakfast while she experimented with paint. Her talent quickly came shining through and she has continued to paint ever since, creating over 700 works of art and exhibiting her paintings in art shows across the globe, including the world famous Art Basel.

Clara loves to use big and bold colors in her art, painting with bright pinks, greens, and blues, and often uses large canvases to highlight the grand emotions and lives of adolescents. She finds inspiration from Frida Kahlo and Vincent Van Gogh because both artists used emotion to guide their process. Clara paints in a similar way, letting her emotions guide her subject matter and color choice. 

In one such painting, titled My Brain, Clara conveys messaging about resilience and optimism.  In this piece, Clara uses thick black brushstrokes to depict a large brain. In a contrasting yellow color, Clara paints the basal ganglia, the part of the brain responsible for making muscle intracellular signaling. Through this piece, Clara gives us a glimpse into her battle with dystonia, a muscle disorder that makes movement difficult for her. The deep blues and blacks in the painting support the theme of sorrow and difficulty, however, Clara contrasts this image with four bright smiling suns in the corners of the canvas to represent the light she feels from her family. She uses this painting to express that even amid challenges, she embraces the light from her surroundings.  

My Brain - Clara Woods

Clara wants to touch as many lives as possible and inspire everyone to find their voice. Currently Clara is living in California with her family and spearheading an inclusion movement through her website and the Clara Woods Collection, where her mantra is “Dream Big! Work hard!” She is using her art and social media handle to destigmatize stereotypes around disability and inspire people with diverse abilities to pursue their dreams. Clara doesn’t want to be seen as someone with a disability, but rather a unique individual who inspires young people with her determination and resilience. In the words of Clara, she is an “artist, a dreamer, and a fighter.” 

Rythms of Resiliance - Clara Woods

If you would like to learn more about Clara’s inclusion initiatives or purchase her art, please visit The Clara Woods Collection