Lyle Wilson is an accomplished Haisla carver, printmaker, painter and jewelry maker. Whether he is drawing on paper, painting on panel or cutting images out of anodized aluminum, Wilson lays claim to a very particular graphic style that fuses traditions on the northern and central coast and introduces his own complex contemporary sensibility.
His 20-year association with the Museum of Anthropology at UBC enabled him to study the work of past masters and develop his own understanding and interpretation of the style of painting popularly known as formline. Themes of environmental concern and his indigenous Haisla language are often intriguingly and uncomfortably juxtaposed – made especially apparent in his “word paintings” which depict graceful formline figures that morph into the letters of the English alphabet. His art is distinguished by sinuous lines, fine crosshatching and a multitude of intricate details and images. His work often amplifies the more baroque elements of Northwest Coast design including the depiction of forms within forms within forms.
Wilson is a Kwakwaka’wakw/Haisla artist from Kitamaat Village, which is near the town site of Kitimat, BC. One of his first artistic influences was his uncle, carver Sam Robinson. He attended UBC in 1978, followed by the Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where he completed a diploma in Printmaking in 1986. He considers himself a lifelong student and carver and enjoys studying and analyzing historical works of Northwest Coast art in museum and private collections. He has researched and experimented with Northwest Coast painting for over 30 years, participating in the Museum of Anthropology’s image recovery project. He has become a major figure in rebuilding recognition for both old and new painted art. He has work at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, and the Vancouver International Airport. Wilson has been exhibited throughout Canada and the US, most notably a large solo exhibition in 2013 at Vancouver’s Bill Reid Gallery. He is the first Northwest Coast artist to have works acquired by the Canada Council Art Bank. Wilson’s work can be found in prominent public, corporate, and private collections in Canada, Europe and Asia.
“Of all the stuff I do, I actually find painting the most stressful. You don’t really get to release all the pent-up energy until you’re finished the painting. Whereas, if you’re carving wood, you get to whack away at it, so it actually relieves stress. Painting builds it up.” Quote from Lyle Wilson – “Paint”, To Sept 15, 2013, Bill Reid Gallery, Vancouver, https://www.gallerieswest.ca/magazine/stories/lyle-wilson%3A-%22paint%2C%22-to-sept.-15%2C-2013%2C-bill-reid-gallery%2C-/
For all you deep art divers out there.
More info on Lyle Wilson’s uncle, Haisla carver Sammy Robinson. Also, a Global News feature.
More info on style of painting known as Formline.
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