We recently had the chance to connect with Vicki Wilson and have shared our conversation below.
Vicki , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Im an artist that is telling the story of another artist,in this article . Vicki Wilson an artist that has amassed a large amount of work. She has shown her art in some of the best galleries around the country and who’s had a very exciting life in New York and internationally, as well, but is now in a facility that will probably be the end of her art career.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Paintings by Vickie Wilson depict an Art Brut vision through the use of vibrant acrylics and mixed media technique to form complex graffiti-like Take a Matisse-loving third generation abstract painter birthed on the likes of de Kooning and Pollock, subject her to 18 years of watching graffiti covered subway trains, blurs of color, screeching brakes, just pure raw emotion. Add some Keith Haring, Studio 54 punk rock and just plain life in the fast lane. Now those memories can be transformed by searching for a personal language in art. I am grateful to many friends, artists and teachers who inspired and challenged my life in all manners, both difficult and uplifting, with a kick in the ass and a kiss. By painting tonight, tomorrow I awaken to see my dreams, but not so often here, which is truly the best without censoring. How can I let the subconscious speak? Automatic and abstract meet quite easily with a sleight of hand, like a master hypnotist, bringing forth my unconscious mind set free.
I had a great career working in commercials, wore many hats there, creative enough, art director, set decorator, costumer and wardrobe stylist. Then I left, had started to paint again and wanted to give it my full attention. Played with styles, researched some, loved Joan Mitchell. Then I saw a page in a graffiti book and fell in love with an art collective in Barcelona, Spain. Ochos Nigras, (Black Sheep), and that was what I was looking for and have been inspired many times by looking at that one page. Because I liked this art I started to research similar in Europe and discovered the style had a name, Art Brut. Then found Jean Dubuffet was instrumental in defining this very basic, primitive form of expression, that I love so much. Throw away a lot of paintings and recently started to save them for collage, primarily using a glue gun. It was really a learning experience. I can have a large table covered with cut up canvas and can pick colors to cut into abstract shapes. It’s been a wonderful journey. Someone mentioned they, “Wanted to live their life in my colors.” I replied, “I lived that that life and now I paint it.”
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
From early on, I knew I would be a painter. I found my passion with graffiti art from a book that I reviewed in Spain. I’ve learned so much and studied so many wonderful artists like Joan Mitchell and Jean Dubuffet. My art has been a wonderful journey, I’m so happy to have taken.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
As I tell the story of this wonderful artist, Vicki Wilson, I must tell you what a sweet, kind and inspirational artist she is. A few years ago Vicki was on hard times and I bring a curator at Mills Gallery,Orlando and my colleagues decided to help this artist out. We filled the Gallery with so many of her wonderful works of art and invited the public in to see it and possibly purchase some of these paintings to give this artist what she needed to move forward. The Orlando community opened their arms to Vicki and purchased a large amount of art. It warmed my heart to see how people came together to support her.. Vicki was so happy, she loved when people enjoyed her work. It’s possibly the most important thing in her life.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Anyone who knows Vicki Wilson knows that first and foremost her art matters the most to her. When Vicki has art on the wall in any gallery at all, she is beaming with pride and satisfaction. Every painting tells a story, a story that comes from Vicki‘s heart or a memory of something past.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I know that Vicki is most at peace in her studio. Her home is her studio. If you ever had the opportunity to visit Vicki‘s home studio you would understand how important her art is. There are paintings and paint everywhere on every bit of the home, Vicki surrounded herself, and her home in a life of an artist. That is her happy place! Surrounded by color, brightness, fun and stories of her exciting past in the city she loved, New York.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Vickie Wilson_
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