BROWSE ARTWORK

Standard rich in studio. head shot

Richard Wilson

Standard rich in studio. head shot

Richard Wilson Art Gallery

"My art expresses stories of my optimism and pride of my culture with inspiring and aspirational images from high achievers and icons to historic figures. I create art that journeys deep into the souls of my subject. "

Richard Wilson is a visual artist who uses reality and creativity to produce images that reflect the beauty in the world around him. Like most gifted artists, Richard’s talent developed at an early age. His unique abilities were first recognized by family, friends, and classmates. By age 8, Wilson was skillfully crafting images of trucks, action figures and cartoon characters for his...

► Read More About Richard

... classmates in his home town of Robersonville, NC. Under the mentorship and influence of his father, he continued to develop his artistic skills.

After graduating from SouthWest Edgecombe High School in Pinetops NC, he attended Barton College to pursue his dream. There he studied Communications Art and began investing in his future as an artist. He later received a degree in Advertising & Graphic Design from Pitt Community College, and after graduating he served as an instructor in the same art department in which his own dream was
cultivated.

Richard Wilson’s resume resembles that of an older accomplished artist. Given his masterful execution and the universality of his subject matter, Richard’s work is both acclaimed by professional artists and has strong popular appeal. His narrative paintings frequently feature his own family and in particular his children in those special moments that only children have while growing up. Wilson’s artistic strength is his capacity to select those moments that transcend the personal and can reach a broader audience. Some paintings are nostalgic, some express those human connections that are only found within the family, and some express the challenge; in all of his paintings there is warmth and discretion. The artist does many commission portraits as well and has that uncanny capacity to extract personality and depth from his subjects faithfully represented in his realistic style.

Wilson has produced an impressive twenty year career as a productive professional artist, freelance and corporate graphic designer, and teacher at Pitt Community College. He has artworks in numerous collections, public and private, but is most proud of his official portrait of George Henry White, the last former slave to serve in Congress, and the fact that Wilson is the first African American artist to have a portrait publicly displayed in a North Carolina courthouse. In November 2018 Wilson was featured in the Wall Street Journal and was recognized as “one the most successful artist that you’re likely to meet”. Wilson was recently commissioned by the University of Georgia to paint the portrait of Mary Frances Early, the first African American to graduate from the University. He was selected by Blue Moon Brewing Company as one the 20 Up and Coming Artist in the United States to design a Limited Edition label for their 20th Anniversary Blue Moon Artist Series bottles. Wilson paintings were featured on the big screen in the fall of 2016. Five of his works were purchased for the movie “Barbershop - The Next Cut”, featuring actors, Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Common & rapper Nicki Minaj. He was featured on the cover of Sunshine Artist magazine in March of 2013 which is a popular national art magazine that highlights the top art events in the country. In November of 2013, Art Collectors Magazine highlighted Wilson’ s studio and work as a destination to see in the Carolinas and in December of 2013 his figurative work was also highlighted in Art Collectors magazine. During his career Wilson has received numerous local, national and international awards; in 2018 he received the top prize in winning the First Prize, Pastel Journal Founder’s Award in memory of Maggie Price in the 20th Annual Pastel 100 Competition and was featured in the April 2019 issue of the Pastel Journal, America’s leading magazine devoted to pastel artists. In 2002 he received the prestigious National Arts Club Award. Amongst his many shows, competitions and accolades, in 2005 he also won First Place in “The Best of North Carolina” Juried Publication and in 2006 Pastel Society of New Mexico Award at the Pastel Society of America 34th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club, NYC. In 2011, the International Tennis Hall of Fame acquired one of Wilson’s “Shadow Series” painting, titled “In His Shadow” depicting a young boy inspired by Arthur Ashe, for their permanent collection. Wilson’s work is being collected by collectors all over the world. Some of his notable collectors are Legendary Hall of Fame baseball player Henry Hank Aaron, Tina Knowles – Designer & mother of singer Beyonce Knowles, Gladys Knight, Tom Joyner, Ed Gordon, Victoria Rowell, Bev Smith, Anne & Clifton Davis, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Judge James Wynn and many more. His work can be viewed in books and museums, as well as private and public collections.

Let yourself be drawn into the paintings of Richard Wilson and find comfort in the familiarity of the images. You will find that his work journeys deep into the souls of his subjects.

For information on commissions, show bookings, speaking engagements, workshops, and upcoming events contact Richard Wilson directly.
To view his full biography, visit his website.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (252) 314-2942
website: www.richardwilsonart.com

Standard richard wilson booth shot

2019 Best In Show – River Arts Festival – Memphis, Tennessee (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – Bethesda Row Art Festival – Bethesda, Maryland (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – St. James Court Art Festival (Belgravia Section) – Louisville, Kentucky (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best New Artist – Armonk Outdoor Art Show – Armonk, New York (Juried Exhibition)

2019 First Place – Arts & Apples Art Festival – Rochester, Michigan (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – Boardwalk Art Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show –Art Beats & Eats – Royal Oaks, Michigan (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – Art Fair On The Square – Madison, Wisconsin (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – Boardwalk Art Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Festival Award – Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival – Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show – Artisphere Fine Arts Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Most Unique – New Orleans Jazz Festival (Congo Square) – New Orleans, Louisiana (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best of Show – Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2019 First Place – Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Best in Show – Pastel Journal Founder’s Award in Memory of Maggie Price (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Best In Category – Bethesda Row Art Festival – Bethesda, Maryland (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Second Place – Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Juror’s Choice Award – Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival – Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Best of Show – Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2018 First Place – Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Award of Excellence – Mount Dora Arts Festival – Mount Dora, FL (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Best In Show / Drawing – River Arts Festival – Memphis, TN (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Judges Choice Award – Artsplosure – The Raleigh Art Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Best In Show – Artisphere Fine Arts Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Merit Award – Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Second Place Award – Virginia Beach Neptune Arts Festival – Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Invitation Award – Plaza Art Fair – Kansas City, Missouri (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Merit Award- Columbus Art Festival – Columbus, Ohio (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Best of Drawing/Printmaking/Graphics Category – Virginia Highland Art Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Honorable Mention Award – Artsplosure – The Raleigh Art Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Merit Award – Main St. Art Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Best in Drawing/Printmaking/Graphics Category – Atlanta Dogwood Fine Art Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2015 MWBE Excellence Award – Minority & Women Business Enterprise – GUC & City of Greenville, NC (Selected)

2015 Best of Show Drawing/ Printmaking /Pastel Category – Atlanta Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Best in Show – Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Honorable Mention – Artisphere Fine Art Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Award of Distinction – Winter Park Art Festival – Winter Park, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2015 First Place – Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Third Place – East Carolina University “AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE IN EASTERN NC” Community Celebration Reception & Art Exhibition –Greenville, North Carolina (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Distinction – Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival – Pensacola, Florida(Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Merit – Plaza Arts Festival – Kansas City, Missouri (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Best of Show Drawing/ Printmaking /Pastel Category – Atlanta Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Best in Show – Uptown Art Fair – Minneapolis, MN (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Thomas A. Felton, Jr. Award of Distinction in Fine Art – 59th Annual Boardwalk Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Merit – Columbus Arts Festival – Columbus, OH (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Merit – Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Best in Drawing Category – A-RTS Rockville Town Square Fine Art Festival – Rockville, MD (Juried Exhibition)

2014 First Place – Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Best of Show – Chastain Park Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2013 First Place – Centerfest Fine Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Best of Painting Watercolor/Pastel Category – Atlanta Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Second Place – Artisphere Fine Art Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Best in Drawing/Printmaking/Graphics Category – Atlanta Dogwood Fine Art Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2012 Third Place – Centerfest Fine Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2012 Artistic Merit Award – North Carolina Statewide Exhibit – On Common Ground: Pastel Paintings From the Mountain to the Sea – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2012 Third Place – Artisphere Fine Art Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2011 NAACP Hall of Legends “Trailblazer Award” – Pitt County NAACP Greenville, North Carolina (Selected)

2011 First Place – St. Stephens Arts Show 2011, Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2010 Award of Merit – Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, Illinois

2010 First Place – Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI (Juried Exhibition)

2010 Best In Drawing Category – Boardwalk Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place – CenterFest Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place – Art Appreciation College Text Book Cover Contest

2009 Award of Excellence –Virginia Beach Neptune Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place – Miami Beach Festival of the Arts – Miami Beach, FL (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place – Pitt Community College First Annual Fine Art Exhibition (Juried Exhibition)

2008 Best In Show – Ocean View 46th CBAA Annual Artshow – Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2008 Third Place – Center Fest Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2006 Pastel Society of New Mexico Award – Pastel Society of America 34th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club–New York, NY
(International Juried Competition)

2006 Award of Merit – Stockley Garden Art Festival (Juried Exhibition)

2006 Award of Honor – Boardwalk Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2006 Third Place – AFRAM Festival – Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2005 First Place – “The Best of North Carolina Artist” Competition) (Juried Publication)

2005 Herman Melville Award of Excellence – Portwarick Art & Sculpture Festival–Newport News, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2005 First Place – Grifton Shad Festival Art Show–Grifton, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2005 People Choice Award – Grifton Shad Festival Art Show–Grifton, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2005 Artwork “Deep Thoughts” was published in Living Artist Catalog sold in Barnes & Nobles (Juried Publication Competition)

2002 National Arts Club Award – Pastel Society of America 30th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club–New York, NY
(International Juried Competition) (National Art Club also purchased 4 pieces of his work for their permanent gallery.)

2000 Best In Show – NC Weslyan College Annual Martin Luther King, Jr Competition – Rocky Mount, NC

1999 First Place – NC Weslyan College Annual Martin Luther King, Jr Competition – Rocky Mount, NC