Paula Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paula Wilson
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From Paula Wilson's 2014 video "Salty & Fresh"
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Paula Jane Wilson
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| Alma mater | Columbia University (M.F.A.) |
| Occupation | Mixed Media Artist |
Paula Wilson (born December 17, 1975) is an American artist. She creates art using many different materials and methods, which is why she is called a "mixed media" artist. Her art often explores what it means to be a woman and looks at cultural history. She uses things like sculpture, collage, painting, and printmaking (like silkscreen and woodblock). In 2007, Paula moved from Brooklyn, New York, to Carrizozo, New Mexico. She still lives and works there with her partner, Mike Lagg, who works with wood.
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Early Life
Paula Wilson was born in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in a neighborhood called Hyde Park. Her father, William Julius Wilson, was a professor at the University of Chicago. Her mother, Beverly Ann Wilson, is also an artist and makes books.
Education and Learning
Paula went to Washington University in St. Louis from 1994 to 1998. She earned her first art degree there, called a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.). She graduated with very high honors. Later, she earned her Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree from Columbia University.
Her Art and Work
Paula Wilson is known for her large and interesting artworks. These pieces often tell stories and create scenes that show her experiences as a biracial Black woman. She takes famous art ideas from history and puts herself into them. Her art mixes different styles, from clear drawings to painted images. She builds her stories by layering different pictures together.
Paula's art often includes self-portraits (pictures of herself), printmaking, and collage (making art by gluing different materials together). She uses many ways to print images, like wood blocks and silkscreens. She also layers different kinds of paint, such as acrylic, oil, and spray paint. Sometimes, she even makes videos that put her 2-D artwork into real landscapes. She cuts, glues, and stitches materials to create colorful and detailed artworks. Her pieces often seem to "burst" out of their frames, showing how she constantly puts together her life experiences. These experiences include being Black and white, living in cities and the countryside, and mixing old and new ideas.
Paula also helped start two art groups: MoMAZoZo in 2010 and the Carrizozo Artist in Residency (AIR) in 2016. These groups help other artists.
Teaching Art
Paula Wilson has taught art at several universities. She was a visiting critic at Yale School of Art and an assistant professor at Columbia University School of the Arts. In 2015, she was a special visiting professor at Washington University in St. Louis. She has also been a visiting artist at many other schools across the country, sharing her knowledge and skills.
- Visiting Artist, Oberlin College, Ohio, 2020
- Visiting Lecturer, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Pennsylvania, 2017
- Visiting Artist, Boston University, Massachusetts, 2016
Art Shows
Paula Wilson has had many art shows where people can see her work. These shows are called exhibitions.
Solo Exhibitions
These are shows where only Paula's art is displayed.
- 2008 – "The Stained Glass Ceiling," Bellwether Gallery, New York
- 2010 – "First Story," The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia
- 2015 – "Salty & Fresh," Cherry & Lucic, Portland, Oregon
- 2018 – "Spread Wild: Pleasures of the Yucca," Smack Mellon, Brooklyn, New York
- 2022 – "Be Wild. Bewilder," Emerson Dorsch Gallery, Miami, Florida
Group Exhibitions
These are shows where Paula's art is displayed alongside other artists' work.
- 2019 – "Contemporary Performance," Florida Museum of Photographic Art, Florida
- 2017 – "Sunrise, Sunset," Emerson Dorsch Gallery, Miami, Florida
- 2016 – "Surface Area: Selections from the Permanent Collection," Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
- 2012 – "The Bearden Project," Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
- 2009 – "A Decade of Contemporary American Printmaking: 1999–2009," Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- 2006 – "Frequency," Studio Museum in Harlem, New York
Personal Life
Paula Wilson lives and works in Carrizozo, New Mexico. She shares her home with her partner, Mike Lagg, who is a woodworker.
Awards and Recognition
Paula Wilson's work has been written about in many important art magazines and newspapers. These include Hyperallergic, Artforum, The New York Times, and The New Yorker.
In 2019, she received the Award of Distinction from Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. She has also been given special opportunities to work at art centers, like the Fabric Workshop and Museum and the Vermont Studio Center. She even had a residency in Giverny, France, through the Art Production Fund.
