For this week’s Power of Art featured story I chose a story of a difficult and lonely childhood that drove one little boy to discover his unique talent for creating art so tiny that it can’t be seen with a naked eye: Willard Wigan microscopic art.
Willard Wigan sculpts figures small enough to fit on the head of a pin. To create these microscopic masterpieces, he works diligently through the stillest hours of the night, between his own heartbeats.
Willard Wigan has immortalized the Obama family in the eye of a needle and Muhammad Ali on the head of a match. In producing sculptures so incredibly small, he works under a microscope and employs ingenious tools, such as a fly’s hair or an ex-girlfriend’s eyelash for paintbrushes.
This passion for the diminutive stems from feelings of insignificance in Wigan’s childhood. He was severely dyslexic but undiagnosed, and his teachers’ harsh words drove him to hide in a nearby shed where he made shoes and hats for his friends, the ants. Today, his art has earned him national honors and critical acclaim, proving that some treasures can’t be seen with the naked eye.
“It was a fantasy world I escaped to where my dyslexia didn’t hold me back and my teachers couldn’t criticize me. That’s how my career as a micro-sculptor began.”
Willard Wigan
Source: TED
Talks Willard Wigan: Hold your breath for micro-sculpture
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More Willard Wigan microscopic art at: Willard Wigan Gallery Sales
Peter Pan micro sculpture by Willard Wigan
Henry VIII micro sculpture by Willard Wigan
Gold ship micro sculpture by Willard Wigan
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
That is simply astounding! I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this. Wow! The sculptures are so tiny I can’t even begin to imagine how the man accomplishes this. Diversity truly is a wonderful thing.
I’ll have to look him up now.
Pretty amazing. It’s always good to see people move from the traditional ways of art to something new. And this is exactly that. Very cool.
This is good art! I always like finding new and unique artists, and this art is really great. I like especially the level of detail, the bright colors, and the realistic subject material. Keep it up!
Wow, this is really interesting. I don’t think I’ve heard about this before, but it definitely needs to be more known. This is such precious and delicate work. He’s truly amazing. Thanks for introducing me to his work!
It’s so wonderful that something so great can come from unhappiness. What a way to turn things around. Hopefully those teachers see his success now. He is way more talented than they. If only we all could turn our circumstances around like this artist does. That in itself is very admirable. Of course, the art is so good it speaks for itself.
Wow, I have just bookmarked this entry! I saw a piece on television quite a while ago about Willard’s microscopic art, and have remained utterly fascinated. But I could not think of his name and did not know how to find out more. Thank you so much for bringing his tiny little artistic work back into my world — and thank you to you and to Willard for the story of triumphing over mistreatment and ignorance!
It is amazing that art has the ability to transform people lives. I’m sure Willard would have had a harder life if he hadn’t discovered his art. And sharing this with the rest of us makes it even more special.
This is a most fabulous story. I love how he turned his life around. And he has a sense of humor!
I had heard of Willard Wegan before and had seen pictures of his fabulous and unique work. He has a wonderful story of accomplishment with seemingly insurmountable odds. As a retired educator, it makes me cringe at hearing what horrible stigmas teachers can place on children. I am so grateful that he was able to overcome all of this and make such a success of his life. It is wonderful to see and share. I am sad, however, for many children who never were able to be this strong. We never realize the impact we have on another. A very good reminder of this….thank you, Willard, for your magnificent artwork and the lesson you have shared.