CV

John F. Gerrard is a multidisciplinary artist who merges mental health advocacy with his art and writing practice. In 2018, he trained as a peer support worker with the Canadian Mental Health Association, a transformative experience that greatly influenced his future writings about mental health and neurodivergence.

In 2019, Gerrard participated in his first international event, SOME PEOPLE (Every)Body, a health-centred group show in Chicago featuring essays and art from both doctors and artists. That same year, he collaborated with neuroscientists on a charity project that paired artists with researchers, culminating in an auctioned piece at a gala event.

Over the next few years, Gerrard continued his advocacy on social media while creating visual art and developing his first book, We Make Clocks, Not Time: My Lived Experience with Psychosis, Creativity, and the Ideas That Have Helped Me. Also in 2022, he had the privilege of visually interpreting a group conversation on Indigenous reconciliation, with his artwork given to the Governor General of Canada.

Following this, Gerrard continued to write and make art—often with a healthy dose of Star Trek in between creative sessions. In 2024, he participated in the TD Incubator series at Arts Commons, Calgary, creating an immersive soundwalk installation based on We Make Clocks, Not Time. Now, Gerrard is set to release his second book, Reconstruction Quest: A Neurodivergent Journey, which is focused on his story as a person who has struggled but learned to thrive with neurodivergence and mental illness.

Artist Statement

Art is my way of understanding both myself and the world around me. I explore this through multiple mediums and disciplines, each offering its own lens for self-expression and discovery. Writing plays a central role in my practice, particularly as a space for mental health advocacy. I delve into topics like free will and share my lived experience, aiming to foster connection and understanding.

My visual work reflects a balance between complexity and harmony, capturing the interplay between order and chaos, parts and the whole. Each piece invites exploration while maintaining an overarching sense of cohesion. I prioritize honesty and authenticity in everything I create. This is especially evident in my paintings, where I often leave traces of the artist’s hand visible—such as squiggles that reflect my own shaky hands—celebrating the humanity behind the work.

Across all disciplines, my aim is to create work that feels honest and accessible, offering a space for both self-reflection and shared understanding. I seek to bridge the personal and the universal, using my experiences to spark connections with others.

— JFG