Alison Lapper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alison Lapper
MBE
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Alison Lapper in Brighton, December 2018
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| Born | 7 April 1965 Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire
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| Education | Chailey Heritage School Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People |
| Alma mater | Heatherley School of Fine Art University of Brighton School of Art |
Alison Lapper is a famous British artist. She was born on April 7, 1965. She is well-known for being the subject of a large sculpture called Alison Lapper Pregnant. This sculpture was shown in Trafalgar Square in London from 2005 to 2007. Alison and her son, Parys, also appeared in a BBC TV series called Child of Our Time.
Contents
Early Life & Education
Alison's Childhood and Growing Up
Alison Lapper was born in Burton upon Trent, England. She was born without arms and with shorter legs. This condition is called phocomelia. When she was a baby, she lived in a special institution. She is not very close to her family.
Doctors tried to fit her with artificial limbs (fake arms and legs). But Alison felt these were not to help her. She thought they were to make her look more "normal" to others. She decided not to use them. She found it much easier to live without these aids.
Learning and Studying Art
Alison left Chailey Heritage School when she was 17. She then moved to London. She went to the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People. There, she learned to drive a car.
She also studied art at Sutton College of Learning for Adults. After that, she took more art courses at Heatherley School of Fine Art. Later, Alison moved to Brighton. She studied at the University of Brighton School of Art. In 1994, she earned a top degree in Fine Art.
Alison's Art Career
How Alison Creates Art
Alison Lapper uses photography, digital imaging, and painting in her art. She often uses herself as the subject. She wants to make people think about what is considered "normal" or "beautiful."
She is a member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World (AMFPA). This group supports artists who paint using their mouth or feet. Alison joined as a student and became a full member after college.
Inspirations and Achievements
One of Alison's inspirations is the famous sculpture Venus de Milo. This ancient statue is missing its arms, which Alison relates to her own body. Alison has shown her art in many exhibitions in Britain. One of these was at the Royal Festival Hall.
In May 2003, Alison Lapper received an MBE. This is a special award from the Queen for her great work in art.
Art and Family Life
After her son Parys was born in 2000, Alison created an art project. It was an installation of photographs of herself with him. Alison and Parys were also featured in the BBC TV show Child of Our Time. In 2006, she wrote a book about her life called My Life in My Hands.
The Marc Quinn Sculpture
Creating a Famous Sculpture
Alison Lapper became the subject of a sculpture by artist Marc Quinn. The sculpture is called Alison Lapper Pregnant. At first, Alison was not sure if she wanted to pose for him. She wanted to be sure he would show disability in a respectful way, not with pity.
Marc Quinn noticed that old statues, even if they had lost limbs, were still seen as beautiful. He wanted to create art that showed bodies born in a different way as equally beautiful. When he called Alison again, she told him she was seven months pregnant. He thought this was even better for his idea! In 1999, Alison went to Quinn's studio to have a cast made of her body.
Where the Sculpture Was Displayed
The sculpture is made from Carrara marble. It was placed on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in London. It stayed there from September 2005 until late 2007. A very large copy of the sculpture was also shown at the 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.
Awards and Recognition
In May 2003, Alison Lapper was given an MBE for her contributions to art. In July 2014, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things.
Personal Life
Alison Lapper had a son named Parys. She was pregnant with him when she posed for the Marc Quinn sculpture. Sadly, Parys died suddenly in August 2019 when he was 19 years old. Alison later shared that Parys had faced bullying at school because of her disability. This led to him struggling with his well-being when he was 17.
See also
- Mouth and foot painting
