Chloe Wigg: a story of art and inspiration

Rochedale South artist Chloe Wigg has been on quite a journey over the past few years, and it is her love of art which has helped her thrive. 

Chloe’s work can be found in the Logan Hospital precinct – she designed the cheery bees incorporated into the street art there – as well as, more recently, the Croydon Road public art area in Logan Central. 

But she hasn’t always been such a keen artist.   

The one-time paramedic first discovered her love of creating art while undergoing art therapy after an injury. She loved it and art became a form of self-care. 

‘For me it was about mindfulness; I am a very busy person, and it was always quite hard for me to be still. I could never really do meditation or quiet time – but when I am creating art everything goes quiet and I am focusing on something,’ she says. 

‘It’s just being absorbed in something that brings you joy for that time – it feels like giving yourself a big cuddle.’ 

People began to ask about buying Chloe’s work, much to her surprise – ‘I was thinking, I am not trained and this is a K-Mart paintbrush!’ – so she started selling her art and creating videos. Her small business was budding until, at the start of 2020, she became ill. 

She was later diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease which weakens skeletal muscles and meant that she sometimes couldn’t walk.  

While struggling, Chloe had her first exhibition at Logan Art Gallery – ironically titled “Natural Resilience: Inner feelings, outward reflections’ – and says working on the project was often the only time she was out of bed. 

For the past 18 months, Chloe has been juggling hospital visits, family commitments with her son and husband, and ensuring she can still enjoy art. This has meant a pivot to digital and small-scale art.  

She says she was always keen to be part of the Loganlea Healthy Street project in 2021 and loved the idea of public art that can be enjoyed by everyone.  

‘I had never done public art before, and in that area with the university, TAFE and Logan  Hospital nearby, I designed the bees because it was a buzzy hive of an area,’ she says. 

‘I also liked the idea of bees simply because people like them – they are eye-catching and I really believe public art should be able to be universally enjoyed by everyone who passes – not just some people.’ 

Chloe designed her bees digitally and says it was amazing to see them come to life in the space. 

‘If those bees make anyone else a fraction as happy as I was when I saw them, that is wonderful,’ she says. 

‘It was also so great to work with so many other local artists.’ 

When working on the Croydon Road project, Chloe’s philosophy remained the same: a simple, universal and joyful design – this time, themed around bubbles. 

Chloe says being sometimes limited to a wheelchair also often opens up conversations about accessibility and she says she hopes when children see her, they too can feel like they are included in public spaces. 

Her focus is now on occasional large-scale pieces and events, which are manageable, enjoyable, and allow her to engage with the community.