Archipelago | Amazing Savants

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Thank you to those who attended our 2025 Archipelago event! We hope to see you next year!

Archipelago 2025 Savants

Each of these individuals has an incredible talent (Music, Math, Art, Science, etc) and concurrent disability or brain injury

Alonzo Clemons

Alonzo Clemons is an American savant and sculptor from Boulder, Colorado. He sustained a severe brain injury as a child that left him with a developmental disability.

Brayden Schmidt

Passionate about timelines and precision, Brayden Schmidt is known for an extraordinary ability to track events, dates, and emotional associations with uncanny accuracy. With a deep interest in Apple Products, Minecraft, and cinematic detail—especially within thriller genres—Brayden Schmidt brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and creative insight. Whether mapping out future milestones or revisiting impactful moments, they approach every project with clarity, structure, and a genuine curiosity for how experiences intersect over time.

Casey Vormer

Casey 'Remrov' Vormer, is a self-taught pencil artist based in Montreal. Casey was obsessed with drawing as soon as he was old enough to hold a pencil and now he specializes in highly detailed and realistic drawings of mostly animals and cityscapes. Diagnosed with classic autism, drawing has always been a way for him to communicate and connect with others. Casey recently drew a 3.5 by 10 feet cityscape of Old Montreal that has received worldwide attention. He is looking forward to creating bigger, more detailed, and expressive works of art.

David J. Marchi

David, a visual abstract artist, began his journey into painting after a life-altering boat accident in 2015, leading to the discovery of his talent, identified as Acquired Savant Syndrome. His art, guided by color, texture, and pattern, explores contrasts to create harmonious works. Inspired by vivid dreams, David’s subconscious guides his creative process. Renowned critic Jerry Saltz praised his work “Aqua Vita” for its scale and expressive flow. David supports causes like Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and The Human Rights Campaign. His globally recognized art is part of collections at MOMA, The Whitney, and The Guggenheim.

Derek Amato

Derek Amato's life took an extraordinary turn in 2006 when a head injury unlocked a profound musical ability. With no prior training, he suddenly possessed the innate skill to play the piano at a professional level, composing complex pieces seemingly effortlessly. This rare case of acquired savant syndrome transformed his life, leading him to share his remarkable talent with the world. Derek's story is a testament to the brain's hidden potential and the unpredictable ways in which it can rewire itself, offering a captivating glimpse into the mysteries of human consciousness and musical genius. He continues to inspire audiences with his spontaneous and heartfelt story telling performances.

Derek Paravicini

Derek Paravicini is a blind and autistic English virtuoso pianist and savant with perfect pitch and an exceptional memory for music. He can instantly transpose music to any key and play any piece he hears flawlessly. Paravicini has performed at Buckingham Palace, Las Vegas, Ronnie Scott's, and the Barbican. He has also collaborated with others, including improvising pieces on BBC Radio and composing Blue, the first concerto for someone with a learning impairment.

Diana de Avila

Diana de Avila is a U.S. Army veteran and late-emerging savant artist whose digital and algorithmic art developed following neurological events, including MS and traumatic brain injury. Her work—blending fractals, geometry, generative code, and augmented reality (AR)—explores perception, consciousness, and transformation. Diana is represented by ArtLifting, a platform that champions artists impacted by disability by placing their work in corporate and public spaces. She is the subject of the award-winning documentary “The Color of Genius” and co-author with Wilma Davidson of the multi-award-winning book “Soldier, Sister, Savant,” which chronicles her extraordinary creative awakening.

George Logothetis

George Logothetis is the Executive Chairman of Libra Group and Chairman of the Board of Libra Philanthropies, a privately owned, global business group with assets and operations in nearly 60 countries. He is based in New York City. At 19, George became CEO of his family’s company, Lomar Shipping, which had three vessels. The shipping business was grown into a more modern and diversified 55-vessel fleet over 10 years. In 2003, George founded Libra Group at the age of 28.

Gianni Martire

Gianni Martire is the Co-Founder and CEO of Applied Physics. Formerly trained in finance with no background in science, Gianni became an acquired physics savant on September 12, 2018 after a profound neurological event. Just one year later, he was lecturing at universities across three continents on his new theories in general relativity and potential flaws in our current lens of nature. By 2021, he co-authored the seminal paper “Introducing Physical Warp Drives” with Dr. Alexey Bobrick, presenting the first physical warp drive model and helping to push forward Warp Field Mechanics as a serious field of study. The Pentagon has called his work “a once-in-a-decade find.”

Grant Manier

I am Grant Maniér (maun-yay), an award-winning Eco-Artist known for turning recycled materials into masterpieces. I'm also the illustrator of GRANT the Jigsaw Giraffe and Friends - a children's book series inspired by my life, but with a creative twist - I'm a giraffe!Living with autism does not define me ... I define my autism with my talents and skills. I am passionate about using my art to inspire others to discover their unique talents and make a difference.

Jason Padgett

Jason Padgett is a mathematician, artist, and theorist who founded QIH Black Hole Fourier Lithography, a framework where reality emerges from the interference of spinning light. After a brain injury unlocked savant abilities, he began visualizing complex geometry and waveforms, leading to his bestselling memoir Struck by Genius. His work unifies physics, consciousness, and art—revealing how mass, time, and memory arise from light itself.

Jonny Rino

Jonny Rino was a CNC machinist and welder until 2017, when he received a severe concussion in an accident at work. He awoke several days later with an unexplainable urge to try to draw, previously having no artistic ability. He’s since found enjoyment in creating various forms of art. He is able to work with soft pastels and also sculpt wood and metal. He hopes to continue to explore different mediums in the near future. Jonny now resides in Northern Maine with his daughter, where he hopes to establish a home-based art studio/gallery, permaculture micro farm, and an online store to sell his art.

Malachi Schmidt

Malachi Schmidt, 23 year-old savant artist resides in Fond du lac Wisconsin, drawing and painting anything from commissioned pet portraits, influential people in history, to thought provoking abstract pieces. His experience growing up as an autistic person gives him a unique perspective and voice that comes through his art in an unmistakable style, that captures the true essence of his subjects that others might miss.

Michelle Felan

Michelle L. Felan from San Antonio, Texas is a sudden savant artist creating visionary art inspired by her unique experiences. In 2017, Dr. Darold Treffert recognized her gift and supported her in understanding the meaning and power behind her work. Being a savant artist has changed her life — her art comes from intense visions and feelings that guide her. Moving forward, she plans to share her art to inspire others, raise awareness about sudden savant syndrome, and deepen understanding of creativity and human potential.

Michelle Scheeland

Michelle Scheeland was born in Lancaster, California but currently lives in Oklahoma. Upon becoming an aquired savant she developed the ability to understand and identify patterns in nature and perceives more of her environment than before. This saved her life and has helped her son to overcome sciatica. It also caused a compulsion to learn. This has been a double-edged sword as life has not been easy. She would like to go back to school for physical therapy, and would love to speak on her experiences with others.

Moniyi Adewole

Moniyi Adewole is a gifted and talented artist who leads a jazz band, called Mo’Jamz. He started playing the piano and keyboard at age 5 and has over the years, developed a natural flare for music as an entertainer. He is adept at accurately reproducing music by listening and reads musical notes appreciably. He has acquired certification in ABRSM Music Practicals up to Grade 4 through the Masha Music Academy and continues to thrive within the Music sphere. He is versatile within the band and plays the drums, saxophone and piano. They have played at various events and places including Metropolitan Club, Saddle Club, Ikeja, Lekki Leisure, Freedom Park, Lagos, Annual Concerts and at private parties. He has also been featured playing solo at Songs & Stories with Cobhams Asuquo and at the unveiling of the Guinness World Record’s Largest Art canvass by Kanyeyachukwu Okeke in Abuja Nigeria. When he is not playing in the band, Moniyi is a Music tutor to young children at a school. He enjoys swimming, horse back riding, cycling. He is proudly supported by his family.

Ping Lian Yeak

Ping Lian YEAK is an internationally recognised autistic savant artist whose inspiring journey continues to touch audiences worldwide. Born with severe social, intellectual, behavioural, and communication challenges, he was initially unable to hold a pencil. Through tracing and colouring exercises, he developed fine motor skills and discovered his passion for art at age 8. Today, his vibrant works — created in acrylic, oil, watercolour, charcoal, and ink — reflect a blend of Impressionism and Romanticism. Agora Gallery NY described him as “a prodigious savant at 11 and today a mature painter.” His story has been featured in exhibitions, books, documentaries, and academic studies globally. Ping Lian’s art celebrates the beauty of neurodiversity and the power of perseverance.

Stephen Wiltshire

Stephen Wiltshire MBE A renowned autistic artist whose career spans over forty years! Known for his cityscapes and aerial view panoramas has inspired many to become visual and creative artists in their own right. Spreading the words “Do the best you can and never stop” has helped all walks of life to be free and expressive through art. His struggles as an autistic artistic have never hindered his dream of becoming successful and believing in himself and his passion. His vision is his language one we can all understand and share amongst ourselves, through determination and understanding can conquer challenges however big or small! Through his eyes we see his vision.

Temple Grandin

Dr. Temple Grandin is an animal science professor at Colorado State University and a prominent advocate for both autism and animal welfare. Diagnosed with autism as a child, Grandin has become a leading voice in the autism community, sharing her experiences and advocating for better training for educators. She's also a pioneer in improving farm animal handling and welfare, known for her innovative designs that reduce stress in livestock.

Tony DeBlois

Tony DeBlois was born in El Paso, TX but now resides in Rapid City SD. He is a prodigious musical savant; he is also blind and autistic. Tony graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music ’96. He plays 23 musical instruments and sings in 11 languages. He has performed in Canada, Ireland, Singapore, China and Nigeria. His message to the world is: It’s OK to be different, believe in yourself, don’t give up on your dreams, always have high hopes, the two most important words are “thank you”- and the 3 P’s are practice, practice, practice. His goal is to continue performing music preferably at your next event.