Charles Banks Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Banks Wilson
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | August 6, 1918 |
| Died | May 2, 2013 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Art Institute of Chicago |
| Known for | Painting |
Charles Banks Wilson (born August 6, 1918 – died May 2, 2013) was a famous American artist. He was born in Springdale, Arkansas. His family later moved to Miami, Oklahoma, where he grew up.
Charles Banks Wilson was a painter, printmaker, teacher, and illustrator. He also wrote and taught about history. His artwork has been shown in over 200 exhibitions. These shows took place all over the United States and the world.
You can find Wilson's art in many famous museums. These include New York's Metropolitan Museum and Washington's Library of Congress. His works are also at the Corcoran Gallery and the Smithsonian. Many of his important paintings are in the Oklahoma State Capitol building.
Contents
Who Was Charles Banks Wilson?
Becoming an Artist
In 1937, Wilson started studying art. He went to the Art Institute of Chicago. There, he learned about painting, watercolors, and making prints. He also got a job as an illustrator for the Chicago Tribune newspaper.
Art in Oklahoma
Many of Wilson’s artworks are displayed in the Oklahoma State Capitol. He painted large, life-size portraits of important people. These include Will Rogers, a famous entertainer, and Sequoyah, a Cherokee scholar. He also painted Jim Thorpe, a great athlete, and Senator Robert Kerr.
Wilson also created four large murals for the Capitol building. These murals show the early history of Oklahoma. They are located under the Capitol dome.
Books and Illustrations
Charles Banks Wilson was very good at illustrating books. He illustrated 22 books and contributed to many more. He also wrote and edited a book about the Native American tribes of Eastern Oklahoma.
Children in Oklahoma schools learned from a history textbook that had over 50 of his drawings. He also illustrated classic books like Treasure Island and Mustangs. People say his paintings truly show the spirit of the American Southwest.
Working with Other Artists
Wilson was a good friend of the painter Thomas Hart Benton. Wilson helped Benton find Native Americans to sketch in Oklahoma. These sketches were used in Benton's mural at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. The mural is called Independence and the Opening of the West.
Wilson also painted a portrait of Benton. He even made a bronze sculpture of Benton. This sculpture is now at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Famous Works and Recognition
In 1955, John D. Rockefeller Jr. asked Wilson to paint a mural. This mural, called "The Trapper's Bride," shows the fur trade in the American West. It is considered a wonderful record of that time.
Wilson painted portraits of many important people. One was U.S. House Speaker Carl Albert. This portrait was the first to hang in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
His four large portraits at the Oklahoma Capitol are very popular. Over a million visitors see them each year. Wilson is especially known for his pictures of modern Native American life. His "Ten Little Indians" collection has been printed in many countries.
Wilson received many awards for his art. The U.S. State Department honored him. He also got the first Governor's Art Award in Oklahoma. He is in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He also received the Western Heritage award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame.
He designed special medallions for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Inc. in England. These medallions, called "The First American Series," showed famous Native American chiefs.
One of his biggest projects was creating the murals for the Oklahoma Capitol. These murals are about 110 feet (34 m) long. They show the state's discovery, trade, Native American immigration, and overall history.
Teaching and Legacy
Wilson started the Art Department at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. He led this department for 15 years. The Charles Banks Wilson Scholarship helps young artists study there today.
In 1995, Wilson painted "Freedom's Warrior." This painting honors Native Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces. It shows their contributions to the country.
On May 9, 2007, the Oklahoma House and Senate declared it "Charles Banks Wilson Day." This honored his contributions to the state.
The Charles Banks Wilson Art Gallery at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College was recently updated. It is a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) space. It includes a student gallery, classrooms, and computer-graphic design studios. This renovation honors his work at the college.
Charles Banks Wilson passed away peacefully on May 2, 2013, at the age of 94.
