Artist. Illustrator. Writer. Autism Advocate.

 Carissa Mordeno Paccerelli is an international award-winning artist from 

the United States.  She has always had a proclivity to express herself through art.  

Before she was verbally communicating, she was already drawing and expressing herself through art.  She started drawing when she was a toddler, but her artistic talent became evident at age three.  At age six, she was diagnosed on the autism spectrum.  

Growing up, Carissa found it challenging to speak to people.  She found it helped when she took a pencil to paper and began drawing.  Art in its many forms helped her express her feelings in a multitude of colors and emotions of characters.  

At 15, Carissa had her first solo art exhibit in Pasadena, California.  She has received a wide variety of awards and recognition for her artwork, which has been featured in   exhibits, fairs, and festivals in Canada, Slovenia, Korea, and the United States.  At 17, she published her first book, "The A Book,"  a collection of satirical comments and illustrations about Autism. 

Carissa completed her secondary education at PHS CAMAD's Visual Arts & Design Academy.  She also attended an advanced high school arts program at Otis College Arts of Design on a full scholarship awarded by the prestigious Ryman Arts, an organization founded by Marty Skylar, a Disney legend in honor of another legendary Disney artist Herbert Ryman to encourage young artists to reach their potential. 

Additionally, Carissa attended highly-competitive high school art programs at CalArts, UCLA, Art Center College of Design, Idyllwild Arts Academy, and Woodbury University.  

Carissa also attended Pasadena City College where she earned a Studio Arts degree.  Currently, Carissa is pursuing her bachelor's degree in arts at California State University, Los Angeles.

 Carissa was a recipient of the following scholarships:

• Pasadena Educational Foundation's Norman Schmidt Visual Arts Scholarship 

•Jeanne Ward Scholarship for Visual 

Arts at Pasadena City College in 2019. 

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U.S. States Congress Certificate of Recognition - Representative Michelle Steel 

California Congressional Certificate of Recognition - Congressman Young Kim

California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition for Artistic Achievement - 

Assemblymember Chris Holden

California Legislature Certificate of Recognition - Assemblymember Petri-Norris

California Congressional Certificate of Recognition - Congresswoman Judy Chu

California State Senate Certificate of Recognition - Senator Carol Liu

California Legislature Certificate of Recognition - Assemblymember Portantino

City of LA Certificate of Recognition - Councilmember Imelda Padilla

First Place, 7th ANCA INAP Award for Visual Arts, Vancouver, Canada

Winner, 2021 & 2022 KASEC's Dream Art Contest, Anaheim, California

Winning Artwork, VSA & US Department of Education Art Exhibit, Washington, D.C.

Three-time Bridging Boundaries Awardee, PUSD's No Boundaries Art Exhibit

Pasadena, California

Three-time Chalk Arts Winner, 

Covina & AutismHwy Chalk Art Festival

Covina, California

Pasadena Tournament of Rose - Parade of Roses Artistic Art Contest Winner

Pasadena, California

​​​Master of the Arts Showcase Grand Prize Winner, Pasadena-Altadena Links 

Disability Rights Legal Center & Art of Autism IDEA Art Contest Winning Entry

San Diego, California

Visual Arts Award for Excellence, PUSD PTA Reflections Art Contest

First Place, One City One Story Art Contest, Pasadena Public Library

​Scholastic Art & Writing Award

Silver Key & 3 Honorable Mentions 

CA PTA Reflections Arts Award Recipient

​Mayor's Award, SoCal HS Youth Art

Doerje Chang Museum, Covina, California

Award Recipient, San Gabriel Valley District of Women's Clubs Art Contest

SOLO EXHIBITION: 

“Artwork by Rissa P” - Pasadena, California

"Coco" Mural - Downtown Disney, Anaheim

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

 Kouhigh Toy Group Shows (Los Angeles) 

17th Annual Disability Art Exhibition

Los Angeles City Hall Bridge Gallery

"Color of Sound" (Oceanside)

Oceanside of Museum of Art

PCC Student Juried Exhibit (Pasadena)

IAEED "The VR Exhibition" (So. Korea) 

Art of Expression Exhibit

National Autism Conference (Pennsylvania)

Milestones Masterpieces Art (Ohio) 

"Under Quarantine" (Pasadena)

 PCC Div. of Visual Arts & Media Studies 

Selected Artwork for Backdrop 

ANCA World Tour Show (Slovenia)

Anne Torsiglieri's "A" Train Play

Skirball Center (Los Angeles) 

Theater Row (New York)

Mainly Mozart Showcase (San Diego) 

"Diverse Perspectives" - Art of Autism

Sophie's Gallery (El Cajon)

SCA Project Gallery, Social Justice (Pomona)

11th Annual Young Artist Exh. (Long Beach)

South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival & Art Walk (South Pasadena)

 "Pain" Exhibit, USC Hoyt Gallery (L.A.)

PUSD No Boundaries Art Exh. (Pasadena) 

Arts & Craft of Autism - Brighter Future 

(Venice Beach)

The Sketchbook Project World Tour -Brooklyn, Atlanta, Miami, Austin, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto

USC Institute for Genetics Art Gallery

Art of Autism, Speaker (L.A.)