Stuttering Through Art: A Unique Piece by Willemijn

We are thrilled to share a beautiful new piece created by Willemijn of @JustStutter, a talented artist from the Netherlands who stutters. Her stunning work captures stuttering in a thought-provoking and beautiful way, offering a unique reflection on the experience of stuttering through art.

As someone who has used art to express her relationship with stuttering throughout her life, Willemijn brings authenticity and depth to this piece that we’re honored to showcase. This visual artwork invites us to reflect on how we can create space for young people who stutter to express themselves fully.

About Willemijn

In 2019, Willemijn began creating comics about stuttering to deal with the uncomfortable situations she encountered as a person who stutters.

“Over time, the comics became a way to practice self-kindness and encourage myself and others to keep opening up about stuttering.” - Willemijn

Explore Willemijn's Work on Instagram @JustStutter

Inspired by the stuttering community, she has created over 100 comics, which she shares on Instagram (@JustStutter). For Willemijn, her art and her journey toward finding peace with stuttering have always been intertwined. “Both have helped me immensely to embrace my life as a person who stutters and to grow as a person.”

Now, her focus has shifted. “I don’t feel the same need anymore to make comics as a way to support myself, so I have shifted my focus to creating them to support others. Stuttering is difficult, and my dream is that my comics make it a bit easier.”

What draws her to stuttering as an artist is its universal lessons.

“Stuttering makes visible what happens when we try to control something that is out of our control. Stuttering shows how trying to gain control leads to more struggle, and I think this is a very valuable lesson that we can relate to in other parts of our lives too.” - Willemijn

She believes that stuttering teaches us that peace and comfort come from surrendering to difficulty and embracing our authentic selves.

“In the future, I hope to bring this lesson that I learned from stuttering into art, because I think this is helpful knowledge that people who stutter can share with others.”

Behind the Art: Why Listening Matters

At Support for Young Stutterers, we know that listening is one of the most powerful ways to support a young person who stutters. It’s about creating space for them to say what they want to say without pressure or expectations.

This message resonates with the theme of this year’s International Stuttering Awareness Day Online Conference: The Power of Listening. ISAD encourages us to think about how we can foster environments where people who stutter feel valued, heard, and supported. When we connected with Willemijn, we wanted to see how she could bring this concept to life through her work.

The result is a piece that beautifully captures the essence of listening. Willemijn’s illustration portrays a moment of connection where a child is talking, and the adult is fully present. The sparkles in the speech bubble can be seen as a symbol of stuttering itself, representing the uniqueness and beauty of stuttered speech, as well as the joy and freedom that come with self-expression when space is created for communication.

In today’s fast-paced world, this artwork encourages us to slow down and recognize that being present is a powerful act of support. By making space for young people who stutter to express themselves, we allow them to be seen and heard on their own terms, which fosters deeper connection and understanding.

Join the Conversation

Willemijn’s piece is more than just a visual representation—it’s a powerful reminder of the impact of listening, fostering connection, and creating space for young people who stutter to be fully themselves.

👉 We also encourage you to share this artwork with the young people in your world—whether at home, in the classroom, or the speech therapy room. Use it as a starting point to spark meaningful conversations about stuttering and listening. Here are a few questions to help guide the conversation:

✨ What do you think is happening in this picture?

✨ What do you think they are talking about?

✨ I’m noticing the sparkles—do you think this person is stuttering? What does stuttering look like to you?

✨ What do you like talking about?

✨ What does a listener look like?

✨ How can we help others learn to be listeners and allies?

✨ What do you want listeners to know about stuttering?

A heartfelt thank you to Willemijn for creating such a beautiful and thoughtful piece. Your ability to capture the essence of listening and connection through art is truly inspiring, and we are honored to share your work with our community!

Now, we’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Explore more of Willemijn’s beautiful and thought-provoking work on Instagram (@JustStutter) or her website, wiwillemijn.com.