Ben Wilson (1913-2001) American, Abstract Oil on Canvas, "Once #1"

Lot description

Ben Wilson (1913-2001) American, Abstract Oil on Canvas, "Once #1". Signed and dated 1997-1998 on the back. Overall Size: 40 x 45 in. Ben Wilson was born in Philadelphia. In c. 1916 the family moved to New York City, and in 1930 he began his study of Art. He entered City College, New York for a degree program in Fine Art and studied there with George Eggers. Simultaneously, Wilson entered the National Academy to accelerate his studies and diversify the input of styles. He spent three years at the Academy in their evening program. As if that weren't enough burden and exposure to Art training, Wilson entered The Educational Alliance to study with Abbo Ostrowsky. And beyond that still he took further studies with K. Anderson and L. Kroll. He finished his NYC academic studies with his graduation from City College in 1935. Wilson had always considered himself stylistically as 'Experimental' and knew he was on the right path when he was told by Leon Kroll that, "You have no reverence for Nature". After his formal Art education, Wilson stated that his painting was influenced by the works of Max Beckmann. He developed a unique style of painting Agony and Depression for which subject matter abounded from 1935 through WWII. He was a WPA Artist. After the War, Wilson took his Art to a more Abstract style. He traveled to Paris to study at the Academy Julien in 1953-54. He returned to the US and continued to develop a very personal paint application and creation of his own meaningful symbols and imagery. He peeled the layers of his own Art back to where he felt that he could feel the composition emerging from the simple painting of the ground onto canvas. For the rest of his Artistic career, Wilson continued to develop and evolve the relationship with his Art and Intelligence."