Fred Wilson, 2012
Oil on linen, 60” x 43”
Fred Wilson is one of the most interesting conceptual artists of our time. Fred re-contextualizes objects of art, as well as cultural artifacts, to highlight the lack of representation of people of color. Fred uses the same exhibition techniques as Museums to present a collection in a way that invites you to look at it from an entirely different perspective. Much of Fred’s process includes engaging the community, as well as extensive research of a particular location where a project is cited. His exhibition, “Mining the Museum: An Installation by Fred Wilson,” at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore in 1992, threw him into the art world’s limelight, this exhibit became one of the defining exhibitions of an extremely successful career. In 1994, Fred was included in the Whitney Museum of American Art “Black Male” exhibition curated by Thelma Golden. Fred was a recipient of a MacArthur Award in 1999. In 2003, he was the United States representative in the 50th Venice Biennale. In 2008, Fred was elected as the Artist Trustee to the Whitney Museum’s Board.
I met Fred in 1988, just after I joined MTA Arts for Transit as manager for temporary arts programs. Fred worked in the Bronx for the Bronx Council on the Arts as Director of the Longwood Arts Center. We were colleagues, both artists working as arts administrators. I did not know at the time but it would be only a few short years until Fred would become one of the best known artists in the world.
Oil on linen, 60” x 43”
Fred Wilson is one of the most interesting conceptual artists of our time. Fred re-contextualizes objects of art, as well as cultural artifacts, to highlight the lack of representation of people of color. Fred uses the same exhibition techniques as Museums to present a collection in a way that invites you to look at it from an entirely different perspective. Much of Fred’s process includes engaging the community, as well as extensive research of a particular location where a project is cited. His exhibition, “Mining the Museum: An Installation by Fred Wilson,” at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore in 1992, threw him into the art world’s limelight, this exhibit became one of the defining exhibitions of an extremely successful career. In 1994, Fred was included in the Whitney Museum of American Art “Black Male” exhibition curated by Thelma Golden. Fred was a recipient of a MacArthur Award in 1999. In 2003, he was the United States representative in the 50th Venice Biennale. In 2008, Fred was elected as the Artist Trustee to the Whitney Museum’s Board.
I met Fred in 1988, just after I joined MTA Arts for Transit as manager for temporary arts programs. Fred worked in the Bronx for the Bronx Council on the Arts as Director of the Longwood Arts Center. We were colleagues, both artists working as arts administrators. I did not know at the time but it would be only a few short years until Fred would become one of the best known artists in the world.