Irish artist Lorraine Tuck’s newly commissioned work tells the story of a family living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability. Tuck is the mother of four children, two boys and two girls. The boys have autism spectrum disorder, which in the case of the youngest, is coupled with severe intellectual disability. Unusual Gestures provides insights into the far-reaching implications that neurodiversity and disability present for families. It explores the impacts – some subtle, some fundamental – on parental and sibling relationships, and charts the challenges and joys of everyday family life.

A further series of works in the exhibition focuses on the artist’s uncle Owen. Born in 1972 in Connemara, Owen has Down’s Syndrome and is gender fluid. At times, Owen chooses to live as a woman called ‘Pink’. Owen/Pink has collaborated with Tuck to produce a series of portraits exploring their fluid gender identity with joyful and refreshing honesty. Tuck’s work is a beautiful and clear-eyed call for acceptance and inclusion.

Commissioned and curated by Photo Museum Ireland. Developed in partnership with Galway International Arts Festival, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. The Commission and the The Arts Council.