Will Wilson (photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William (Will) Wilson
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|---|---|
| Born |
William Wilson
1969 (age 55–56) San Francisco, CA
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| Nationality | Navajo Nation |
| Known for | Photography |
| Awards | Eiteljorg Museum Native American Fine Art Fellowship (2007), awarded grant from the Joan Mitchell Foundation (2010) |
Will Wilson is a talented Native American photographer. He is also a citizen of the Navajo Nation. His art often explores Native American identity and history.
Early Life and Education
Will Wilson was born in San Francisco in 1969. He spent his childhood growing up on the Navajo Nation. He went to a government boarding school in Tuba City until 8th grade.
Later, he received a scholarship from the "A Better Chance (ABC)" Foundation. This allowed him to attend Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts. He then studied at Oberlin College, where he majored in studio art and art history. Will Wilson earned his Master's of Fine Arts degree in photography from the University of New Mexico. He has also been an artist-in-residence at the School for Advanced Research.
Exploring Photography and Culture
Since 2012, Will Wilson has been working on a special project. It is called the Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange (CIPX). This project brings together many Indigenous artists and experts. They create different artworks that show Indigenous peoples.
Wilson uses an "old fashioned" camera and a special method called "wet plate collodion process." This helps him create photos that look like historic pictures. His goal is to show Indigenous people in a new, respectful way. The photos from this project have been shown in many museums. These include the Denver Museum of Art and the New Mexico Museum of Art.
Exhibitions and Teaching
In 2014, Will Wilson's work was part of an exhibition called As We See It. This show featured modern Native American photography. Other artists in the exhibition included Matika Wilbur and Shelly Niro. The exhibition traveled through Russia. Later, in 2016 and 2017, it visited the American West.
In February 2016, Wilson's photos were shown at the Portland Art Museum. His work was presented alongside photos by Edward Curtis. Curtis was a famous photographer who took pictures of Native Americans long ago. Wilson's art offered a different, modern view.
Today, Will Wilson is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He teaches photography and media in the Department of Studio Art.
