York Wilson Canadian, 1907-1984

Toronto-born R. York Wilson (1907-1984) had a successful career as a commercial artist working for Brigden’s and Sampson-Matthews where he worked alongside Franklin Carmichael and A.J. Casson, members of the Group of Seven. Wilson was skilled in a range of media from print making to acrylic, oil, tapestry design, illustration and became known for his abstract compositions in a lyrical, semi-cubist style. Wilson’s paintings of the 1960s were primarily abstract and characterized by complex layers of textured, organic form, shape and colour. Art historian Paul Duval described his work of this period, noting its vigorous knifework, textural depths and broken colours.

Wilson created important outdoor murals for the O'Keefe Centre (Sony Centre), McGill University and others through the 1960s. His paintings are held in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.