Brooke Naumann

Eye of a Dyslexic (2023)

Markers, colored pencils, and acrylic paints on art board.

Artist Statement

Growing up with dyslexia in a public school system that doesn’t want to acknowledge the lives of dyslexic people and people with ADHD is a struggle in itself. But also not being diagnosed correctly is a whole other issue. 

The eye 

As a very well-mannered young girl with very good grades, life should have been great, right? But the problem was, I would come home full of hate and anger from everything about school. I cannot express how much hate I felt towards school.

My mom was worried about me, and she knew something had to be done. She read a book about dyslexia, Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywiz.

In short, I was in 7th grade with a 3rd grade reading level, could not spell four letter words, was severely depressed and full of anxiety, NOW diagnosed severely dyslexic with ADHD. 

The words “eye of a dyslexic” covering the tear

I had somehow masked all of this from everyone, and that is why I exploded with emotion.

Brooke Naumann (she/her) is a freshman at Blackburn College majoring in art and minoring in business.