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Witnessing humanity, the art of John Wilson
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)
227 pages : illustrations (some color), portraits ; 30 cm
"American artist John Wilson was not only a master draftsman, printmaker, painter and sculptor active for over seven decades, but he was also a keen observer and social activist. In his representations of Black Americans in particular, he sought to pay homage to the beauty and truths of ordinary Black people in such a way that all viewers, across race and culture, might see themselves reflected. His multidisciplinary works include unflinching representations of racial violence and war, tender family portraits, monumental bronze heads and landmark commissions such as the bust of Martin Luther King, Jr., which stands in the United States Capitol. The first major retrospective of the artist's work, Witnessing Humanity sheds light on Wilson's life and artistic evolution. Reproductions of artworks and photographs accompany critical essays and personal reflections, including analyses by art historians, interviews with Wilson's peers, remembrances from fellow Black creatives and a full chronology by the late artist's gallerist. The varied voices which resonate through this catalog illustrate that it is long past time to recognize Wilson's art--to celebrate his lifelong dedication to depicting what he described as the "reality of being Black in this impossible world"--Artbook.
Director's foreword / Max Hollein and Matthew Teitelbaum -- "A special way of looking" : introducing John Wilson / Jennifer Farrell, Leslie King Hammond, Patrick Murphy, and Edward Saywell -- Envisioning humanity : Boston's Black arts community and beyond / Leslie King Hammond -- Native son / Elisabeth Hodermarsky -- L'Americain Wilson : travels and study in France and Italy, 1947-49 / Theresa Leininger-Miller -- Early experimentations with abstraction / Destinee Filmore -- Illustrating social realities : Mexican muralists and printmakers' influence on African American artists / Lizzetta LeFalle-Collins -- The incident : Black motherhood in art historical and medical contexts / Lisa and Leslie Farrington -- The Richard Wright suite / James Manigault-Bryant -- Children's illustrations / Ekua Holmes -- The young Americans / Shelley R. Langdale -- Seeing ourselves : a conversation / Edmund Barry Gaither and Lowery Stokes Sims -- Honoring a civil rights icon / Michele Cohen -- Printing at Center Street Studio / James Stroud -- Artist reflections / Derrick Adams, Tyrone Geter, Michael Jones, Napoleon Jones-Henderson, Joseph Norman, and Amy Sherald -- Chronology / Martha Richardson with Patrick Murphy -- Notes -- List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Contributors -- Index.
Jennifer Farrell, Leslie King Hammond, Partick Murphy and Edward Saywell ; contributions by Michele Cohen, Leslie Farrington, Lisa Farrington, Destinee Filmore, Edmund Barry Gaither, Elisabeth Hodermarsky, Ekua Holmes, Shelley R. Langdale, Lizzetta LeFalle-Collins, Theresa Leininger-Miller, James Manigault-Bryant, Martha Richardson, Lowery Stokes Sims, and James Stroud ; reflections by Derrick Adams, Tyrone Geter, Michael Jones, Napoleon Jones-Henderson, Joseph Norman, and Amy Sherald.
"Published in conjunction with the exhibition Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson, organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art ; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, February 8-June 22, 2025. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 20, 2025-February 8, 2026"--Colophon.
Includes bibliographical references and index.