SEXABILITY

"​Can art inspire the redefinition of ‘sexy’ to include disability? Absolutely. With ‘Sexability’ and so many other pieces by Kam Redlawsk, definitions of beauty and desire are being refined. Bravely and boldly, Kam’s work speaks to the many issues that come with being disabled, while sharing the intrinsic beauty of the individual despite the disability."

Allié McGuire
Co-Founder of Awareness Ties

THE ART

Visit Kam's website to view more of her work, read her artist statements and purchase her artwork: www.kamredlawsk.com

THE ARTIST

Los Angeles artist and writer, Kam Redlawsk, illustrates moments from her life, primarily thoughts on living with a very rare and degenerative muscle-wasting disorder known as HIBM, Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (today known as GNE Myopathy). HIBM/GNEM began taking over Kam's body at the age of 20 but in hindsight, symptoms began much earlier. 

Born an orphan in South Korea, she would learn 20 years later about her rare condition known as a rare disease. She is one of millions that have an orphan disease, but one of 1,000 to 3,000 thousand worldwide who have HIBM/GNEM. Kam went from kicking soccer balls and running to making use of canes, leg braces and now a full-time wheelchair since 2011. This muscle-wasting condition will keep moving until it seizes every ounce of her body with the prognosis of complete quadriplegia.
Kam has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Automotive Industrial Design from Detroit's College for Creative Studies. Since, she has expanded her design repertoire to product design, creative branding and art direction, graphic design, nonprofit, advocacy and now illustration. She has designed an array of products ranging from cell phones, toys, electronics, and even contributed to the world's cheapest prosthetic knee joint for under-served countries.

Kam is a self-taught illustrator and writer. Out of the necessity to be understood, she began visually articulating her personal experiences with HIBM/GNEM to share what it is like to live with a debilitating condition that doesn't stop. Sometimes an image can describe what words cannot.

Kam has been a public advocate for rare diseases, disability, ableism and inclusion for over 12 years. She publicly documents her wheelchair travels around the world and California oninstagram to encourage people with disabilities and the able-bodied world to live more, as well as disproving societal myths that we are incapable. She is a published KoreAm Journal columnist and many other publications. She is multi-award winning designer and artist who now uses her design skills and life experiences on creative projects that elevate and celebrate disability and inclusion in order to educate a society that has very little disability representation. Some of her current projects include working on her first Children’s Book “Monster and Me”, inspired by her rare disease, struggle and acceptance, and Chair Devils, chibi-inspired characters meant to celebrate the disability community.
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Through old journal excerpts, writing, video journal and design she attempts to give an honest portrayal of her every day struggles, triumphs and her journey. From the funny, the good, the bad, the migration of her weakness, to being a designer, to a constantly forming perspective and a spirit that only grows despite her deteriorating body. Most of all she hopes those who have disabilities and struggles will see they can still live a fulfilling life.