Artists across the World Join Forces for World Lupus Day to Launch ‘The Butterfly Wing’
Today, leading design and innovation company, AKQA, has launched The Butterfly Wing project, supported by Lupus UK, celebrating those living with the condition for World Lupus Day, 10th May.
The project was launched by Grace O’Brien, associate creative director at AKQA, who suffers from the illness, with the aim of curating the world’s first gallery of art made by people living with lupus. Its mission is to create a community to share experiences, as well as generate the interest and awareness needed to fund vital clinical research.
The multi-medium virtual art gallery showcases the work of 17 artists from across the globe who have lupus. Award-winning Native American artist Jeffrey Veregge, best known for his comic book covers for Marvel, is featured in the gallery. Other artists include Cindy Coney in the US who testified before the FDA Advisory Panel to help secure a new drug for lupus, and London-based Kate Wilson, known for her ‘little doodles’, which have led to collaborations with clients such as Marc Jacobs, The New York Times, Vogue China, The Guardian and Links of London.
The little-known incurable immune system illness can affect any part of the body, which is a key reason why it’s so dangerous to those who have it. It’s thought that up to 50,000 people in the UK have lupus, and at least 5 million globally, with the illness diagnosed in women nine out of ten times. Art is often used as therapy by those who have lupus to help manage not only the physical pain, but the psychological and emotional toll of living with a chronic ‘hidden’ illness.
Grace O’Brien, creative at AKQA, says: “This project means so much more than raising awareness for what it’s like to live with lupus - it’s an opportunity to bring everyone in the lupus community together and celebrate their marvellous talent, resilience and strength that resides in everyone. Art as a form of expression is so important because other outlets such as running or hiking aren’t viable options for most people who have lupus. My dream is for the Butterfly Wing project to take flight and provide a space for the community to share their stories and how their chronic illness shapes and informs their creative practice.”
