The Gallery
The Gallery's Founding
Jonathan Small was born in Chicago in 1994. He grew up struggling to communicate, so he expressed himself through art. In 2014, his mother, Deborah Loeser, decided to create a gallery space in Kankakee to showcase his talent and the talent of people like him. She renovated the old Telephone Building on Merchant Street, turning it into the beautiful gallery and studio space that it is today. In 2015, under the leadership of former Director Janice Miller, the gallery was incorporated as a non-profit with a Board of Directors. At its start, the gallery was one of only three in the country solely dedicated to the art of individuals with autism. Through the efforts of many, autistic artists are now able to showcase their talents all over the world. A prolific painter and sculptor, Jonathan continues to make work to this day.
The Gallery’s Artists
Our artists work with a variety of mediums: paint, wood, wire, video, glass, clay, charcoal, plastic, and more. Most of our artists live in Kankakee or hail from Illinois-- but we accept individual art submissions from artists living anywhere in the country.
Upcoming GALLERY Events
We have gallery shows and events throughout the year. Check our calendar for our current and upcoming events as well as some of our annual happenings, such as the Run For Autism.
Gift shop and online store
Our artists’ work is available for purchase at our gift shop and online.