We recently connected with Bex Wilkinson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bex, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
In my case, it took 50 years to find my purpose. or so. When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist. When I say younger I mean about 6 years old. I followed this path until I was 25 years old. At the age of 25 I studied at Rhode Island School of Design as an adjunct student. I specifically went there to study painting with a particular instructor. I lived on my own. I painted on my own. In those days there were no cell phones or social media- so I found myself feeling very isolated. I quit painting and went to study psychology at Antioch Graduate School.
Over time, I left my creative self behind. I became a mother. I worked in entrepreneurial endeavors. These were creative in their own ways, but they were not directly artistic.
Fast forward, after divorce, remarriage and a couple of decades, my second spouse took his life one morning. I found myself traumatized. After his violent departure, I could not be in society. I could only be on my own and I started to paint. That was over seven years ago. I continued to paint and did not stop. I now show my art worldwide. I came full circle back to my artistic roots. But it took a long time.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Bex Wilkinson Art started as a result of a recommitment to my craft. After painting for three years on my own, I decided to apply to galleries during the pandemic. My first show was launched in NYC in April of 2021. The pandemic was in full swing and NYC was essentially shut down. But I had my two rounds of Moderna vaccines and I hightailed it to the Big Apple!
Following this show came numerous offers world wide, and I traveled to most of the destinations. I was in Vienna for my second show when Austria was still on curfew. I had a group show in Lisbon, and was there the day they lifted the. mask regulation. From there came shows in Chicago, Miami, New York, Berlin, Madrid, Rome and in my local state of Idaho.
Most of my work was full of angst and reflected the current world situation of isolation, but then came the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, and my work became more political. Putin invading Ukraine, Human Rights Watch Groups being shut down in Russia, the Trump Era- all became fodder for creation.
After showing and going to Berlin, I started to make a concerted effort to start painting “lighter” subjects. I was struck at the horrors of WWII after visiting a work camp in Germany- and now am painting Unicorns, Dogs, The Sun, and subjects that bring joy. For 7 years I painted my pain- both globally and personally. I now have set out to do a series of the Alphabet creating images of every day symbols and celebrating the joy. These mixed media pieces incorporate glitter, and neon and iridescent paint in order to provoke a brighter visual field!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
“Follow Your Bliss”- as the wiseman Joseph Campbell used to say. Now, this does not mean ignore your responsibilities and obligations. But life should not be just a series of these. I was a homemaker and a mother for years and I derived great pleasure from these rolls.They honestly were some of the best years of my life. However, when the kids grew up and my spouse took his life came an opportunity to focus on ME. And although my creative life surfaced from deep heartache and trauma, the truth is that a silver lining of my essential self rose. Phoenix rising from the flames.
If you feel you “cannot” or will not do something because it is too late, I can assure you, it is not. It may manifest in a different way- not as you thought it could have, but if the thing that pulls you-whether it be art, or some other venture- DO IT!
Life is short. This is the lesson my kids and I learned the day that Caleb died. It changed all of us. And my kids were only 15 and 18 years old at the time. But it changed us all in fundamental ways that we could not live our lives superficially and by other people’s expectations. We used a tragedy to guide us and allowed us to live our own lives to the fullest.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents were avid art collectors. Unlike many parents who discourage their children to be artists, mine always encouraged me. It was difficult for them when I decided NOT to be an artist at age 25. Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was only 20, so he was not able to see my journey full circle back to my artistic roots. But my mother, who is a painter in her own right and a ballet dancer, has seen the fruits of these seeds manifest.
When my father was alive, he brought me to galleries frequently, and both parents toted my sister and me to museums (much to our chagrin at times!) They loved the ballet, opera, museums and music. I am deeply grateful for this education from them both.
Art, for them, and now for me as well (and I hope for my children) is not a frivolous thing. It is an essential part of living that feeds the soul.
Whenever I see parents bringing young children to museums, I smile. I love to see the elders guiding the youth into understanding the importance of the arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bexwilkinson.com
- Instagram: Bex_wilkinson_art
- Facebook: Bex Wilkinson Art
- Other: Please log onto my website and sign up for the newsletter!
Image Credits
Photo credit Daniel Leeds Him/Creative
