Bex Wilkinson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Bex, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
This is an interesting and perhaps loaded question.
Walking infers direction. That I certainly am doing. Wandering suggests a certain aimlessness. However, I would say that WANDERING is a far more beneficial term as an artist. I am walking while wandering through life at this point.
Coming onto 60 this year, has given me a certain perspective- that even though we think we MIGHT be walking towards some goal (that is ever changing!) life hands us curve balls and we find ourselves on a completely different path than expected. So yes, I am wandering- and at the same time wondering.
My “goal” is to be a successful painter. What does this mean? Artists are generally not given awards for their craft. We are not actors, or directors receiving accolades for the work we do. Occasionally, we are granted a show to exhibit our wares. Mostly, we spend hours upon hours on our own reflecting upon that which we find valuable, or beautiful, or painful- or whatever the case may be. We wonder and observe life itself.
A poet wanders. I feel much more like a poet than a goal seeking individual. For example, yesterday I was in Central Park, NYC. I happened to have a “free” day with no particular plans. My aim was to walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On my way, I saw a bench. It invited me to sit down- and so I did. From there I proceeded to paint a city-scape. I was on my own. Then suddenly a school of children showed up and started a game of tag! It got very crowded and loud, and so I finished what I was doing and headed for the museum.
Once I got (walked) to the museum, the front desk told me that my art paints were not allowed, nor my brushes. They tried to confiscate my tools. I left. I continued to wander and continued to draw and paint the people I saw-
It was a beautiful day. My “goal” was interrupted and I wandered taking in the mysteries of the city. Lonely people, happy children, diners, unhoused, runners, walkers, shop keepers- all of it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Bex Wilkinson. I am an expressionistic artist. I generally paint about the contradictions of modern day living and society, but I also love to keep my hand in technique and love to draw people and paint landscapes. I have been painting very committedly since the death of my second spouse from suicide. These past nine years (since his passing) have been an artistic journey and a full circle back to myself as an artist. I gave up painting for 25 years to raise a family and work, but after the loss of my spouse I found myself full-circle: returning to my creative roots.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
People are easily broken. It is the nature of being human. We, generally, are put into this life and told to have direction- or a certain goal. When that goal vanishes, or gets obscured, many people become embittered or lost. I have had the gift given to me of having several major changes in my life. From divorce to death- these things are not negative. They are life changing. If we have the resilience to see that the upsets of our lives and expectations can great shifts, then we do not become broken: we grow from them. I have known many people who have had very large challenges thrown at them- from loss of a child, to grappling with a chronic disease- and the ones who thrive are the ones who view these challenges as teachers. In Buddhist philosophy we are taught that “Life is Suffering.” But the message doesn’t stop there- the point is that we suffer because we cling to expectations of what life is supposed to look like or be- rather than what it is. If we can see those things that happen to us as part of change, then we can become more resilient and therefor, generally happier people. I had a friend say to me once, “A great life doesn’t mean it’s always great.” These are words of wisdom, and important to remember when we face our own challenges.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
This is an interesting question. LIke the first question about whether I walk or wander, I feel there is a certain negative inference that pain is bad. I don’t mean to sound naive., nobody likes pain. But pain is how we grow. I suppose if I have a gift, it would be that pain has been my teacher throughout my life. It doesn’t mean it has been easy- or even enjoyable. I was an awkward child- and the pain I experienced growing up forced me to explore other expressions of myself. At first, it was difficult being different from the other kids in my neighborhood- I didn’t have all the material things that my classmates had. My parents valued travel and education and that is where they put their resources. I had to be creative when dealing with children in junior high which led me to find my own expression of who I was. This difference has continued throughout my life, and in high school I found my solace in my artwork. There were incidences that continually challenge me and my mental health throughout my life, and ALWAYS I found being expressive as a means to release the pain and find meaning. After the birth of my two children, I suffered from postpartum depression. I wrote two screenplays during this time. The death of my father at an early age sent me to work as an adjunct student at various art schools. Pain is part of PAINTing. Or writing, or whatever your expressive journey you may have. Embrace the pain. It is or can be your teacher and guide you through times to lead you closer to your core self.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Honestly, the thing that any one- close friends or family- or even a stranger- can say is “I appreciate you.” It’s not even “I love you.” Love can be inherent in any relationship-mother and child, spouse, friends. Love doesn’t mean like- necessarily. You can love somebody an also not like who they are as a person. I find that appreciating a person for who they truly are is the most powerful thing. Because with that appreciating entails respect. And I find I cannot love, nor even really like a person, if I don’t respect them. I would much rather be appreciated.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I am gone- which will eventually happen- I would hope that the legacy I have left is one that tells my truth. It is not everybody’s truth. We are all different. Aside from wanting to be remembered for my sense of humor, compassion for others, and loving animals and generosity- I would hope that my art leaves a story from which others can relate. I have artists who I deeply respect- Frida Khalo, Morris Graves, Vincent Van Gogh, Maryan (Pincus Burstein,) Ivan Albright, Georgia O’keefe- these are my guides/my mentors. These are people who tell their story beyond the grave. These are people who have deeply influenced my understanding or humanity or lack thereof. The art. The art is the story we leave to help others find their way in this mortal coil.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bexwilkinson.com
- Instagram: @Bex_Wilkinson_Art
- Facebook: Bex Wilkinson Art
Image Credits
Photo Cred:’
Kai Irvine
Daniel Leeds Him/Creative
Ethan Hunt
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
