Willard Wigan MBE is a world-renowned artist from England who has autism, though he wasn’t diagnosed until the age of 50. He turned his childhood passion for art into a career that he has used to inspire others throughout the world. Willard latest sculpture, The Three Little Kings, is perhaps one of his most remarkable yet, and took four and a half weeks to complete, working up to 16 hours a day. The kings and their camels are made of micro fragments of nylon, and the crowns are rendered in 24-carat gold. This piece was created in tribute, to celebrate hope, light, and love during the holiday season.
Mr. Wigan believes in God and views his work as a way to celebrate the message of the birth of Christ and the Three Kings. Using his own eyelash as a paintbrush, he paints and sculpts in incredible detail and meticulousness. The sculptures he creates are so tiny that many find it hard to believe. He states that there is no pleasure in creating the pieces, but takes pride in the reactions of others once they have been revealed.
It has taken a long time for Mr. Wigan to develop his unique tools that allow him to create on such a minuscule scale. He sculpts between each breath, aware of the need to keep his body perfectly still and his pulse steady. To parents of kids with autism, he encourages them to nurture their child’s talents, knowing that their support and encouragement is essential.
Willard Wigan’s current exhibition, “Disappearing World,” is a collection of microscopic sculptures of endangered species of animals, on display across venues in England. He shares his art and his journey through social media and has worked to inspire others to achieve despite their learning differences, just as he has done.