Icon Statue of the 15th century patron saint of abused wives, Saint Wilgefortis, who has become in recent years the patron saint of Non-binary, Trans, and Queer people.

Saint Wilgefortis prayed to God that he would make her ugly so as not to have to marry an older, pagan man; a marriage arranged by her pagan father. She woke up the next morning with a beard. The Marriage was cancelled.

Her father was furious and ordered her crucified. An adolescent boy played the fiddle for St. Wilgefortis on the cross, and she kicked off her golden boot, giving it to him for his kindness. Her father's guards grabbed him for stealing. To show that the boy did not steal the boot, she kicked off the other one for the boy.

In this Saint statue, she stands fabulously proud. She has broken the cross that held her, stigmata still visible on her hands. 


This piece was inspired by the Saint's story, Latin-American icon statues, and early Stonewall Trans activists Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera as well as current activists such as artist-poet Alok Vaid-Menon, and actor Lavern Cox.


Materials: Cardboard, Wool, Washi Paper, rabbit Fur

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​Process Photos