Bill Hutson facts for kids

Bill Hutson, also known as William R. Hutson, (born September 6, 1936 – died September 21, 2022) was an African-American artist. He was known for his abstract paintings and collages. He started making art in the early 1960s. Bill Hutson lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He continued to paint until he passed away. He often worked on large artworks because he became legally blind due to an eye condition called glaucoma.

About Bill Hutson

Bill Hutson was born in San Marcos, Texas, on September 6, 1936. His father, Floyd Hutson, was a musician who died when Bill was only four years old. His mother worked as a custodian. She passed away a few years after his father. Bill and his brothers and sisters then lived with other family members. Bill loved to draw when he was a child. He even took a drawing course by mail. However, he didn't realize art could be a job until he was a teenager. He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on September 21, 2022.

His Education

Bill Hutson finished high school in San Marcos, Texas. After that, he joined the United States Air Force. While he was in the Air Force, he took a drawing class. This was at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque from 1956 to 1957. He also studied art at several other colleges. These included Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and the San Francisco Academy of Art. He studied at these places in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Besides his college studies, Bill Hutson also learned from another artist. He worked as an apprentice with Frank N. Ashley from 1960 to 1962.

Career and Travels

From 1963 to 1970, Bill Hutson traveled a lot in Europe. He visited famous cities like Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. During this time, his art was shown in many places across Europe. Because of this, many European art collections now own his artwork.

After his travels in Europe, Bill Hutson worked in different art-related jobs. He worked in museums and taught at colleges. Here are some of his roles:

• 1974-1976: Graphic Arts Advisor at The National Museum of Art in Lagos, Nigeria.
• 1979-1983: Teacher at Hunter College of the City University of New York.
• 1984-1987: Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University.
• 1989: Visiting Artist and Instructor at The Johns Hopkins University.
• 1989-2010: Associate Art Professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
• 2005-2022: Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Franklin & Marshall College.

Art Exhibitions

Bill Hutson's art has been shown all over the world. He had both group shows and solo exhibitions since 1964. In 2020, he had a solo show called Bill Hutson: Selections from the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College, Pennsylvania. This exhibition was at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg, PA. In 2021, his art was shown in a solo exhibition in his hometown of San Marcos, TX. It was at the Texas State Galleries. He also had art in a group show at The Art Students League in New York, NY.

In 2004, Bill Hutson helped organize an art show. It was for the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College. The show was called Something To Look Forward To. It featured art by famous African-American artists. These included Howardena Pindell, Alvin Loving, Edward Clark, and Sam Gilliam. The exhibition celebrated artists over 60 years old.

Awards and Recognition

Bill Hutson received several awards during his career. In 1972, he won the Cassandra Foundation Award. In 1974, he received a special grant of $7500 from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1980, he was recognized by the Creative Artists Public Service Program (CAPS) in New York, NY.

Art Collections

Many museums and private collectors around the world own Bill Hutson's art. His artwork can be found at:

• Editions Georges Visat, Paris, France
• Brandywine Graphic Workshop, Philadelphia, PA
• The Arco Collection, Philadelphia, PA
• Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
• Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY
• James E. Lewis Museum of Art, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
• Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
• Boysmans-Van Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• National Museum of Southern Australia, Adelaide, Australia
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
• National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba
• Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, New York, NY
• Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
• Petrucci Family Foundation Collection
• Peter Stuyvesant Collection
• Roberto Matta-Echaurren Collection
• The Phillips Museum of Art, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

Connection to Franklin & Marshall College

Bill Hutson started working with Franklin & Marshall College in 1989. He joined the art department as a teacher. He taught there from 1989 to 1999. In 2010, Bill Hutson gave a special gift to the college. He donated a collection of his own art. He also gave his personal library and important papers. These included many historical documents. The Phillips Museum of Art and the Franklin & Marshall College Library share this collection. Bill Hutson was also the Jennie Brown Cook & Betsy Hess Cook Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at the college. He held this important position since 2005.