Tim Sharp facts for kids

Timothy William Sharp, born on May 9, 1988, is an amazing artist from Australia. He is known for creating a super cool and colorful superhero called Laser Beak Man. Timothy has autism, and his art has become famous worldwide. In 2010, Laser Beak Man even became an animated TV show! It aired on ABC3 TV in Australia and was later sold to Cartoon Network in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. This was a huge achievement for a young artist with autism.

Timothy's Early Life

Timothy Sharp was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, in 1988. When he was three years old, his family noticed he wasn't speaking much. He only used a few words and seemed upset often. Doctors diagnosed him with autism. At that time, some believed he might not learn much.

However, Timothy's mother found a special way to connect with him: drawing. She would draw simple stick figures to explain things. When Timothy was four, he picked up a pencil and started drawing too. His very first drawing showed his unique and fun style.

Drawing helped Timothy a lot. Soon after he started drawing, his speech began to develop quickly. Within a month, he was using 10 words, and three months later, he knew 100 words! His language skills kept growing from there.

Timothy always loved superheroes. When he was 11, he created his very own superhero, Laser Beak Man.

A Trip to Washington D.C.

In 2004, when Timothy was 16, he was chosen for a huge art festival. It was called VSA (Very Special Arts) and was for people with disabilities. This festival was started by Jean Kennedy Smith, who was the sister of President John F. Kennedy. Timothy was the only Australian artist picked that year.

He traveled all the way to Washington, D.C., for the festival. He even carried the Australian flag during the opening ceremony at the John F Kennedy performing arts center. A TV show called ABC’s Australian Story made a documentary about Timothy's trip, which was shown in September 2005.

Timothy's Art Career

Timothy Sharp is most famous for his bright and bold artworks. He often uses crayons to create his pieces, and they almost always feature his superhero, Laser Beak Man. Many of his artworks show his unique take on pop culture or things happening in the world.

Sometimes, his art shows how he understands words very literally, which is common for people with autism. Most importantly, his art shows his amazing sense of humor and his fun, often cheeky, view of people and situations.

Timothy's art is very popular, and people from all over the world want to buy it. He prefers to show his art in Australia, and his exhibitions often sell out completely. Many important Australians and art collectors come to see his work.

The National Museum of Australia in Canberra has an exhibition about Timothy's life and art in its Eternity gallery. His art has also been shown at the famous Sydney Opera House.

Laser Beak Man on TV

In 2010, something really exciting happened. While Timothy was showing his art at the Brisbane Powerhouse, he met Sheldon Liebermann and Igor Coric from BigfishTV. They loved his art and suggested turning Laser Beak Man into an animated series. They produced an eight-episode show for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC).

Music and Movies

In 2012, a film about Timothy, made by Arts Queensland, was shown in New York City. It was part of the Sprout Film Festival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Also in 2012, a rock band called The Ghost Ballerinas, from Nashville, Tennessee, asked Timothy to create the artwork for their album, "Play Me on the Radio." Timothy and the band members even wrote a song together called "Laser Beak Man," which was included on the album and available on iTunes.

The band was so inspired by Timothy that they wanted to help others with autism. They organized a music festival in Tennessee called the "I Am What I Am" music festival to raise Autism Acceptance. Timothy traveled to Tennessee for the festival.

Inspiring Talks and Books

In 2014, Timothy gave a TEDx talk in Sydney. He spoke in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, and his talk received a standing ovation, meaning everyone stood up and clapped for him!

In 2015, a book about Timothy's life was published. It's called A Double Shot of Happiness and became a best-selling memoir.

Right now, a theater show based on Laser Beak Man is being created. It's a team effort with Dead Puppet Society and the New Victory Theatre in New York City.