Lismore artist Lucas Wright’s career soars thanks to specialised NDIS support

A Lismore artist’s latest show was so successful he sold seven of the eight paintings he exhibited. His triumph has come after he received much-needed support.

Lismore artist Lucas Wright presented an exhibition, In My Town And Your Town, at Lismore Regional Gallery.

A 33-year-old Lismore artist who lives with Down syndrome has used disability funding to chase his dream job.

Lucas Wright creates his work at Realise Every Dream Supported Art studio.

He draws inspiration from the history of Western painting and infuses his artworks with a great sense of romance.

His mother and carer, Jen Robinson, said her son always had a talent for art and loved to paint buildings.

Mr Wright joined the National Disability Insurance Scheme four years ago and has a comprehensive plan addressing his disability needs and supporting his interest in art.

He used his scheme funding to access art programs, which increased his participation in the community.

The Lismore Regional Gallery hosted a solo exhibition of Mr Wright’s work in February and March.

Mr Wright sold seven of the eight paintings he exhibited and was commissioned to paint a new piece.

In total, he has 10 paintings, five ceramic sculptures and is still producing new art.

Lismore artist Lucas Wright exhibition In My Town And Your Town was shown at Lismore Regional Gallery. Picture: Contributed

Mrs Robinson said the scheme had made a big difference for her and her son.

“His programs take him to the next level,” she said.

“I would never have dreamt that he would have had a solo exhibition at the Lismore Regional Gallery, let alone that they would have bought one of his pictures,” she said.

She said her son had access to services they could never afford before, such as physio, speech therapy and orthopaedics.

“We never had physio before and just through doing the physio, it has rectified his back,” she said.

“He had quite a bad back issue.

“We’ve now had the same physiotherapist the whole way through which is quite remarkable.”

Not-for-profit organisation Social Futures works with the scheme to support to more than 3900 people in the Northern Rivers.

Social Futures CEO Tony Davies said the scheme had shifted the way people with disability were supported.

“The scheme considers needs over a lifetime, not short-term,” he said.

“It maximises people’s independence and their participation in the community and workforce.

“We are investing in people and delivering brighter futures.”