trapped
Art Technique: mixed media and acrylic on canvas, use of boxes, tape, and paint to create the elevator and buttons, doll-sized mobility aids and clocks, and calendar stickers marking off the days the elevator was broken.
broken promises
Art Technique: graffiti markers on a wooden ramp that was actually built for the artist by a previous landlord
ALT Text in this piece: “Oppression is built into every faulty ramp & broken promise.”
Artist’s Statement
In “trapped,” this was made when I was trapped in my second floor apartment for over a month because the elevator in my building was broken. It depicts my frustration and feeling of smallness when I couldn’t get my landlord to do anything about it quickly.
in “broken promises,” the ramp was made months after promised and broke with the first use. Popsicle sticks and charcoal were used to enhance the cracks for the message. The image depicts the anger with inaccessibility through apartment homes that use the Fair Housing Act loopholes as an excuse to not provide a safe home for disabled residents, while going ahead with less important construction plans, such as creating pickleball courts.
Alycia Corpiel (she/her) is a disabled author and artist in Indianapolis, IN, USA. Her first manuscript, Pieces of M.E., was published in 2025 and can be found at stores and libraries internationally. As a homebound, extroverted spoonie, writing has become Alycia’s lifeline. It helps her cope and connect with other people around the world. When she isn’t writing, Alycia enjoys spending time with her husband, dog, and three rabbits.
Instagram: @AlyciaTakesIndy
Substack: @AlyciaCorpielWrites