My Art, My Shop by Rita - Where Every Stroke Speaks of Joy and Inclusion (watercolors by artist who has Down syndrome)
Toronto, Canada
"My name is Rita. I have Down syndrome. Come see my world of color and imagination. I paint original watercolors that will make you smile!"
Rita Winkler was born in 1987 with Down syndrome in Calgary, Alberta, and lived there until 2003 when the family moved to Toronto after the death of Rita's father Jay. As a child, she learned some sign language to compensate for delayed speech. After graduation from high school, Rita went to DANI, an organization which is helping people with disabilities. At DANI, she discovered her passion for art. Visit https://www.ritawinkler.art/
In the past few years, Rita flourished as an artist, painting how she sees life through her own eyes. Alongside creating paintings, she also likes to paint birthday cakes and create birthday cards.
In 2021, a publishing company approached her family, and with the help of her mother, Helen Winkler, and her uncle, Mark Winkler, from New York, they co-authored an educational picture book entitled, My Art, My World. https://www.ritawinkler.art/my-book/ The book shows how she views her life through paintings and teaches inclusion. The book received positive reviews, including a star in Kirkus Reviews.