Jason Wilsher-Mills

I am a 54-year-old working class disabled artist, who was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1969. I was paralysed from the neck down as a child, by an auto immune illness, and told I would not survive until the age of 17. I am pleased to say that I continue to prosper. As a teenager I was told by a teacher ‘people like you do not become artists’ which spurred me on to pursuing a creative life as an artist.

I have worked with over 65,000 disabled adults and children, through supporting them to make art and helping them to become artists themselves.

In 2023/24 I exhibited my ‘Jason and the Adventure of the 254’ show at the Wellcome Collection in London. The show depicts the moment in 1980, when I was diagnosed with the illness, which caused my subsequent disability.

I have shown at Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, who purchased one of my sculptures for their permanent collection. The Ferens show was visited by over 51,000 people. Through this show I was able to ensure that local disabled artists were employed to deliver workshops, along with 2 local disabled artists being commissioned to create new work. I also exhibited at the Lincoln Usher Gallery, Rugby Art Gallery, Wentworth Woodhouse Rotherham, and the Balloon Museum in both London and Dusseldorf. I am also showing work at this years Venice Biennale. My work has also been purchased for the Government Art Collection, so is part of the nation’s collection.

In 2023 I worked with disabled artists in Tokyo, Japan. I have secured an exhibition for the Japanese artists, at a gallery in the UK, and I have continued to mentor these artists through Able Arts Company, in Tokyo.

I am so proud that my huge changing place inflatable sculpture has resulted in accessible toilets being installed at the galleries and museums where it was shown at. I am also incredibly proud that some young disabled artists I have mentored and supported in the UK, have now been able to access arts council England grants.