Photographer and Artist Danielle Gruberger is Neurodiverse, Cheeky, and Proud

danielle gruberger neurodivergent and cheeky exhibition photographer polyester — Make it stand out

When artist and photographer Danielle Gruberger went for a routine doctor’s examination on Valentine’s Day, the result was unexpected. Later that week, she was diagnosed with colon cancer at only 35.
As a lifelong creative, and with an urgent procedure planned, she tried to find ways of processing her diagnosis. She combined new art that aims to encourage people to take their colon health seriously with her existing work on neurodivergence,
The ensuing exhibition is called *Neurodiverse and Cheeky* – which features collage art and original photography, featuring some of her closest friends – and is now on show at Tom of Finland’s LA store space. To mark the opening, Danielle spoke to us about her unique, tongue-in-cheek process, and how her diagnosis has affected her work.

Where did the name ‘Neurodivergent & Cheeky’ come from?

The name ‘Neurodivergent & Cheeky’ represents the two separate concepts explored in tandem throughout the exhibition’s imagery, collage art, & interactive pieces. The original name of the show was “ADHD(TMWTD)”, an intersection of acronyms for “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” & “Don’t Tell Me What To Do”. The concept was intended to celebrate & highlight the beauty of neurodivergent tendencies in a neurotypical-supporting world. This ethos remains prominent throughout the body of work & accounts for the “Neurodivergent” portion of the exhibition name.

The “Cheeky” double entendre began when a routine physical exam resulted in the need for an urgent endoscopy & colonoscopy procedure. The first appointment available was on Valentine’s Day which I found to be hilarious so I booked it, certainly not expecting the joke to be on me as a 35 year-old with a clean bill of health & no family history of cancer. I was diagnosed with colon cancer that Friday at the end of the day. With an entire holiday weekend ahead of me & butt cheeks on my mind, I leaned heavily into the exhibition to stay inspired & explore ways to process such unexpected news through creativity.

The “Cheeky” portion of the show is intended to destigmatize conversations around colorectal health & encourage viewers to get a colonoscopy by splashing humor & a little sass throughout the messaging around a heavy yet critical topic.

In your artist statement you mention Easter eggs within the works for neurodivergent people - can you let us know any of them?

I incorporate hidden messaging into my work to appease my neurodiverse mind by creating opportunities for visual & mental stimulation. This body of work is no exception, with signs & tidbits from my colon cancer journey thus far veiled by my photographs throughout the collage art.

The most recurring Easter egg is the pamphlet I was given to prepare for my upcoming laparoscopic colon surgery, covered in visual aids drawn by my surgeon. The pamphlet page I use most can be found in the collage titled “Cause & Effect” where my surgeons hand drawn interpretation of my cancer looks like it was drawn by Samara in The Ring. This pages can also be found on a pedestal in the bathroom, while every page of the pamphlet frames a door that marks the end of the exhibition.

The collages explore multiple themes but I found it especially interesting how you pair your explorations of your diagnosis with camp and “cheeky” images in your collaging - what was the reason behind creating these juxtapositions?

The ethos of the show originated with embracing neurodivergent idiosyncrasies & living life outside the box. I leaned into this when I received my colon cancer diagnosis & chose to be the artist who talks about colonoscopies in their exhibition because I hated feeling intimidated by the stigmas surrounding colorectal health & felt compelled to help break them. What better time to normalize conversations around colorectal & gastrointestinal health than in a space where viewers least expect it. This overarching juxtaposition transformed the show concept & led me to explore the crossroads of accepting mortality & living life to the fullest.

In addition to my collage art, juxtapositions can be found throughout the exhibition via my handwritten messages on the walls & furniture, while waiting in line for the restroom, & in my bathroom takeover installation with cheeky material to enjoy while using it. From beginning to end, viewers are repeatedly encouraged to get colonoscopies & keep up with their gastrointestinal through the artwork.

The juxtapositions in my work are intended to provide comedic relief, stimulate the mind, & shed light on an array of dichotomies. All the way down to my opening reception wardrobe, I wore a custom leather look by Broken Hearts, designed by David Giampiccolo (featured in the image titled “Forgive Me Father”). Beneath the perfectly tailored leather skirt, I opted for long underwear in lieu of tights, a juxtaposition that only I was aware of yet reinforced the intention of the show.

You also mention that you found putting together the pieces therapeutic - why do you think creating art can be so cathartic, especially when exploring big life changes?

The accumulation of paperwork & pamphlets around my diagnosis felt like an elephant in the room, something I didn’t want to look at but couldn’t avoid. My soul knew I needed to face this new, uninvited truth head on. As my way of creatively processing, I altered the documentation into my collages as a way to search for beauty amidst my fears.

Since receiving the call from my gastroenterologist, I’ve viewed my diagnosis as an opportunity to deepen my human experience. My collages are an outlet to explore my past, present & future using photographs that evoke feelings that collectively express the layers of my experience in this unique blip of time.

On a recent hike in my neighborhood, I stumbled upon a musician who asked if they could sing a song they wrote. Following the impromptu performance they shared they had surgery scheduled the following day & felt calmed in the face of the unknown by playing music in nature, a sentiment that felt familiarly raw. Our individual outlets for creative expression are different, yet cathartic in the same way. I see creative expression as an opportunity to view the discomforts of life through an abstract lens that inspires a sense of purpose in the midst of pain.

Your beautiful photography celebrates different characters throughout, who are the subjects to you and why did you include them in a body of work so personal?

I love this question because the answer lives within it. Each recognizable character included in the exhibition was specifically selected due to the personal nature of this body of work. With such a vulnerable topic, working with images of subjects that fill my heart during a moment of heavy introspection was an important balance to keep my creative process light & positive, something critical to my healing process right now. The subjects include some of my nearest & dearest friends who inspire me to live life to the fullest & embrace the spirit of the exhibition concept.

How did you come to work with Tom of Finland and CultureEdit?

In early 2023, I was commissioned by Vogue Arabia to photograph an artist named Jwan Yosef in his new atelier. He had a piece on display at CultureEdit (aka Tom of Finland Store) who was seeking a photographer so his manager Brianna Bakke connected me with Joakim Andreasson & D’Mahdnes Lavaughn

I quickly became the go-to photographer for CultureEdit, appreciating every opportunity to spend time in such an open & safe creative space. At Jwan’s Christmas party, I was invited to show a selection of work during Frieze in 2024 which just came to fruition in the form of ‘Neurodivergent & Cheeky’. To bring it full circle, Jwan & Brianna attended the opening reception where an outtake image of Jwan from our second shoot for Vogue Arabia titled “Abs O’Clock” was featured.

Collaborating with Joakim & D’Mahdnes on this exhibition was truly a dream. They urged me to stretch as far & wide into my creative abyss as I could. Nothing was off limits, Joakim actually encouraged me to write on their walls which allowed me to shed my people-pleasing barriers & fully immerse myself in the authenticity of the artwork. With Joakim & D’Mahdnes’ collaboration & encouragement, what originated as a photo showcase evolved into an immersive walkthrough exhibition.

Finally, I love the often tongue in cheek titles for your works, how do you come up with them?

The title for each piece came to me in a deep state of creative flow. For example, “Forgive Me Father” features my dear friend David Giampiccolo on Halloween at one of our go-to gay bars called Precinct in DTLA wearing a handmade leather priest costume with a hot make out session taking place behind him as he tried to hand me his drink. This image epitomises everything I appreciate about using photography as a tool to freeze moments that can never be replicated or replaced.

Incorporating my experiences, nostalgic nods, & sassy humor, the titles are actually quite personal to me. The one that tickles me most is the image titled “Is Your Mama Tony Lama?” featuring my friend Lex Orozco-Cabral originally photographed for King Kong magazine. In this image Lex is wearing nothing but a red cowboy hat & his favorite pair of limited edition Tony Lama boots. When I was young I loved the book “Is Your Mama A Llama?” so I ran with the play on words, creating a medley of juxtapositions across a seemingly simplistic piece.

The exhibition is on view at CultureEdit everyday from 10AM-7PM. The pieces are also available as a limited print run & are priced for accessibility, link to the online gallery here.