Kawartha Art Gallery in partnership with Curated presents an online fundraising auction of a selection of paintings, collages, prints and drawings by the Canadian abstract painter, York Wilson (1907 to 1984). The collection of 29 works by York Wilson were gifted to Kawartha Art Gallery by the York Wilson Foundation for the Visual Arts. http://yorkwilson.ca
Kawartha Art Gallery, in continuing to advance a healthy rural creative economy through engaging art and cultural programs and services, will use the funds raised from the York Wilson Auction to create exhibit programming and services that encourage and promote the work of the many talented artists of the creative economy within the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Wilson spent a lifetime researching and experimenting with new media, advanced painting techniques, and fresh approaches which resulted in a highly eclectic body of work.
York Wilson may be a less-well known Canadian artist today, however the recognition of his talent by his fellow artists and peers speaks to the importance of York Wilson’s work in the art history of Canada.
“I found that your vision and interpretation of the theme was equally matched by its exciting and excellent execution. To me, it is a most stimulating and compelling major creative effort, and one which very well could prove to be a milestone in Canadian art.” Lawren Harris, founding member of the Group of Seven
“York Wilson is a key figure in relating us to both the old visual world of realism and to the new resonating world of touch and echo and pattern” and that “there is a rich story of experiment and discovery and dialogue that emerged in an art that is calm, serious, and splendid.” Marshall McLuhan, Communications theorist
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Wilson had a few years of formal education at the Central Technical School in Toronto, after which he began working as a commercial artist. In 1949 Wilson visited Mexico and spent time in San Miguel. This trip changed Wilson and he decided to step away from commercial art for good and dedicate his focus to painting full time. Wilson’s art style developed rapidly because of his willingness to explore not only the physical world but himself as well. During a trip to Paris in 1966, Wilson had two dreams of geometric painting. Geometric paintings then became Wilson’s style between the years 1966 to 1971, with Wilson finding himself unable to paint in any other style.
York Wilson received two of his largest commissions in 1954 and 1958 when he was asked to paint a mural for the entrance of the new Imperial Oil Building in Toronto and to complete a mural for the lobby of the new O’Keefe Centre, now called Meridian Hall. https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/06/heritage-toronto-celebrates-imperial-oil-building https://www.artandculturemaven.com/2010/10/sony-centre-toronto-featuring-work-of.html
When talking about his travel, Wilson said “Being abroad, I was more able to find myself as a person. Travel for me was never an escape; but rather a reaching into the creative unknown.”
All the York Wilson artworks are framed and are in excellent condition. All pieces are either signed and dated by the artist or are authenticated by the York Wilson Foundation for the Visual Arts.
The York Wilson Auction runs from May 20th until Thursday June 3rd, 2021. Bidding opens on May 20th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
The collection of artworks can be viewed online, and bids placed at: https://curated.hibid.com/
Winning bidders will need to call Kawartha Art Gallery at 705-324-1780, to arrange pick up or non-contact delivery of their artwork. Delivery is only available if within delivery area.
For more information, please contact: Susan Taylor, Executive Director Kawartha Art Gallery art@kawarthagallery.com