Wilson developed his most recent paintings after moving to a remote locale in a once-thriving mining community in upstate New York, where he based his studio in an abandoned church. As the title of the exhibition suggests, Spirit Sanctuary is directly influenced by this space. In new works executed on a vertical format mimicking the proportions of the stained-glass windows that provide the studio’s only source of light, Wilson embraces the picturesque natural environment and scarcity of commercial supply in his community as an opportunity for the expansion of visual possibilities rather than restriction. The artist incorporates found materials like flowers and liturgical linens in his highly expressive paintings, loading ritual and reverential iconography into works that serve as acts of devotion to the messiness and beauty of everyday life.
