How to Turn Therapy Into Art—and a Business

“Jigsaw Grant,” otherwise known as Grant Maniér, is many things—student, aspiring animator and voice-over artist, and passionate, proud autism advocate. But his nickname comes from the unique medium in which he works as a savant artist. Maniér, age 30, transforms recycled materials—often puzzle pieces, but also beads, magazines, jewelry, contact case wrappers—into stunning collages. These vibrant creations, often of animals or landscapes, have been displayed around the country, racking up sales for his business and the disability community and bringing joy to anyone who sees them.

How can people turn their differences into strengths?

From a young age, 4 or 5 years old, I just loved art. Coloring, drawing, tearing paper. When I was homeschooled, I did online curriculums. I went through them fast and had time on my hands, so I watched a lot of TV. My mom didn’t like that, so she suggested that I put art into my curriculum. I started out with paint, but I didn’t have the drive for painting. I'd learned about collage when I was a kid, so I gave that a try, and I created my first piece, which is a sun god, just from magazines and calendars. I showed it to Mom, and she loved it. We made more pieces, and when her friends saw them, they loved them! It turned from a home art project into a business.

Tearing paper has always made me feel calm. Working on my art with paper materials is like a form of therapy. It feels like meditation, calming my anxieties. That’s the thing about my autism: It gets me anxious from time to time. It’s not as bad as it used to be, but if it happens, working on my art helps soothe me.

People throw away a lot of their paper, a lot of jigsaw puzzles, like if just one puzzle piece is missing. I'd say: Don’t throw it away! Give it to me because when I work with paper, it helps reduce the landfills. All those big piles start shrinking. It’s like turning trash into treasure. Despite your challenges, you can always make a difference.