David J. Wilson

Bio:

David J Wilson is an artist whose work has been prominently featured in exhibitions across the United States. His impressive portfolio includes showcases at Andrew Logan Projects, Moore College of Art and Design, Socrates Sculpture Park, the Bronx Museum, 5-50 Gallery, Albright College, Novella Gallery, and FLOW.15 public art on Randall's Island, among others.

Wilson's artistic journey has been enriched by multiple residencies, including LMCC's Workspace program, Socrates Sculpture Park, Sculpture Space, Vermont Studio Center, and the Bronx Museum AIM Program and a fellowship with the Center for Art and Advocacy in 2026. Additionally, he has contributed as a visiting artist at Harvestworks.

Recognized for his innovative approach, Wilson has received grants and fellowships from the New York State Council of the Arts, NYFA, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. His work is held in various private collections, reflecting his significant impact on the art world.

Currently, Wilson is a fellow at the Center for Art and Advocacy for 2026. He holds an MFA in Sculpture from Hunter College and is based in New York City, where he lives and teaches.

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Artist Statement:

In my work, I delve into the material evidence of power dynamics embedded within institutional hierarchies, particularly focusing on the justice system and its historical intersections with democratic governance. As a person with personal experience relating to institutions wielding power and who was incarcerated at a young age, I examine how these experiences reflect broader societal and social justice issues through my art. My sculptures, crafted from wood and silicone, are the result of a meticulous exploration of perception, skill, materiality, and process. These elements serve as a medium to question and reflect upon the psychological structures inherent in societal mechanisms and their impact on the human body and psyche. I research and choose images and objects from prisons, courts, law offices, and hospitals that are uncanny and combine and alter aspects of them to create new sculptures that offer a complex and critical take on the systems that produce the original objects. Through skill-intensive practices, I infuse physicality into the wood, creating forms that evoke emotive responses and challenge the object’s inherent facticity. The subtle abstractions and material transformations in my work serve to place these objects into a state of crisis, questioning their conventional meanings and functions. I employ a variety of techniques-hand carving, laminating, steaming, bending, sanding, turning, and polishing wood-to visually render labor economies and the passage of time. Each process is a testament to the intricate interplay between craftsmanship and concept, highlighting the profound dialogue between materiality and human experience. Through this work, I aim to illuminate the often invisible yet deeply felt impacts of the justice system, making visible the intricate layers of experience and perception that shape our understanding of humanity.