Art made with human skin to raise awareness of rare condition

Abigail Hutchinson-Dodd spent 12 months collecting flakes of her own skin and stored them in a jar to help create Are you contagious? for the 2025 at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Graduate Festival.

The 21-year-old, who has had ichthyosis since birth which covers all of her skin, wanted more people to be aware of the condition and how it can affect an individual.

Using a vacuum, she collected flakes from her home and student accommodation and used a sieve to obtain the smallest pieces.

“It’s such an unheard of condition that even a doctor I went to once had never heard of it and was adamantly saying it was something else,” said Abigail, who is studying BA Fine Art in the Nottingham School of Art & Design.

“It has affected me. At school people weren’t very nice and would ask if they could catch it.

“I can’t sit in the sun too long. I struggle to cool down and don’t sweat much. I used to bleach my hair to remove layers of skin from my scalp for relief.

“It’s not just an average skin condition. Some people with it can even have blindness as their eyelids are so affected.

“So I wanted to incorporate it into my art to communicate the feeling of how it can affect people.”

Abigail’s installation centres on a pathogen-shaped sphere that is made from a transparent resin which features small stumps to represent spike proteins.

The pathogen is cast from a mould and the centre remains hollow so that the flakes of skin can be placed inside and seen by the viewer, resembling a dark patch.

The pathogen is hung from the ceiling over a small hospital linoleum flooring which is covered by a glass frame, with five clay emollient cream bottles on top.

Petroleum jelly coats various areas and the space is illuminated by green lights.

“My work speaks a lot to genetic mutation and a feeling of anxiety. A pathogen is invisible and provokes a fear of hygiene,” said Abigail. “And because of my skin, I am more likely to get infections as the epidermis is broken.

“When I first used skin in my art some people thought it was quite repulsive.  But now people know what I do, they think it’s really interesting.”

Abigail’s work is on show for the 2025 Graduate Showcase, which see hundreds of art and design students putting their work on public display at NTU’s City Campus.

Fine Art senior lecturer Lisa Selby said: “Abi has shown how the choice of materials in art can make a significant difference to its meaning and can enhance the experience of the viewing public.

“Her installation communicates a strong but subtle message about ichthyosis and enables the viewer to develop a greater appreciation of the condition.”