IG: willardwiganmbe

Willard Wigan is 62 years old; he is a British Sculptor from Ashmore Park Estate, Wednesfield, and the son of Jamaican immigrants, who makes microscopic art.  Wigan has Asperger’s syndrome, but it remained undiagnosed in the early years. Teachers did not know about autism, so he was used as an example of failure. 

His sculptures are typically designed on the eye of the needle or on the head of the pin. A single sculpture can be as small as 0.005 mm. He is considered to be the world’s greatest micro sculptor. Wigan carves sculptures that cannot be seen, in all glorious, colorful detail, with the naked eye. Queen Elizabeth II loves his work so much, she asked him to create a sculpture of her diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. She invited him to Buckingham Palace to bring the crown to the queen. 

Because his sculptures are so small, the skill and dexterity with which he must work with has to be extremely controlled. He also makes his own tools that are small and sharp enough to carve with precision under the microscope. These include sharpened needles, fine bits of razorblade attached to toothpicks, and shards of diamond. 

Wigan is an inspiration, and he says that’s all he hopes all he hopes to be. He wants to inspire kids with learning differences; inspire people who believe that they cannot become what they want to.