JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Black Despair,” 1945 (oil on Masonite). | © Estate of John Wilson, Private Collection, New York
. Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
On View presents images from noteworthy exhibitions
A MASTER DRAFTSMAN and one of Boston’s great artists, John Wilson (1922-2015) was born in Roxbury and lived and worked in Brookline for much of his career. Over six decades, Wilson worked across a variety of mediums exploring racism, injustice, family life, and fatherhood. Some of his best-known works are depictions of Martin Luther King Jr. The first major retrospective and largest-ever exhibition of the artist and educator, “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson” presents about 110 works, including prints, drawings, paintings, sculpture, and illustrated books.
The wall text introducing the exhibition states: “Wilson’s steadfast commitment to social justice led him, in his own words, to want to ‘unmask’ the hypocrisy of living in the U.S., when to be Black threatened ‘a kind of slow death.’ Witness to some of the most turbulent years of the 20th century, ones marked by wars, violence, and upheaval, much of Wilson’s work reflects his anger and distress at the wrenching effects of disenfranchisement, racial prejudice, and economic inequality.”
Many of the works on view are drawn from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The show travels next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it runs from Sept. 20, 2025, through Feb. 8, 2026. CT
“Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson” is on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from Feb. 8–June 22, 2025
FIND MORE about the exhibition
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). Shown at center, “Study for Father and Child Reading,” 1964
(black pastel on paper, Sheet: 114.3 × 73.7 cm / 45 × 29 inches), Private collection. | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” 1985 (black and white pastel on cream Japanese paper). | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Richard Florsheim Art Fund and Anonymous Gift. Estate of John Wilson, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). Shown, from left, “Martin Luther King, Jr.” (Buffalo maquette), 1982 (bronze, Overall: 76.2 × 58.4 × 58.4 cm / 30 × 23 × 23 inches), Collection of Julia Wilson; “Martin Luther King, Jr.,” 1981 (charcoal and charcoal pencil, with erasing and scratching out, on wove paper; Framed: 121.9 × 95.9 × 5.7 cm / 48 × 37 3/4 × 2 1/4 inches), Sheet: 96.8 × 74.8 cm / 38 1/8 × 29 7/16 inches), Philadelphia Museum of Art. | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “The Young Americans: Gabrielle,” 1975 (colored crayon and charcoal on paper). | National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. © Estate of John Wilson. Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), Self Portrait, 1943 (oil on canvas). | Museum purchase with funds donated by Patti and Jonathan Kraft. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. © Estate of John Wilson
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Becky,” 1969 (pastel). | Courtesy of Bank of America Collection. Estate of John Wilson, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). Shown, at center on pedestal, “Father and Child Reading,” 1985 (bronze, 36.8 cm / 14 1/2 inches). | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Study for Malcolm X,” 1970 (color separation comprised of drawings on three sheets. Top sheet: Black crayon and graphite. Other sheets: brush and black ink). | Wilson estate (MRFA). Estate of John Wilson, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Campesinos (Peasants),” 1953 (oil on paper mounted on board). | Private collection, Boston. Estate of John Wilson, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Richie No. 1,” 1981 (charcoal on paper). | Martha Richardson, Brookline, Mass. Estate of John Wilson, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Roz,” 1972 (pastel on paper). | The Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection and Lee M. Friedman Fund. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, © Estate of John Wilson
JOHN WILSON (American, 1922–2015), “Roz No. 9,” Study for Eternal Presence, 1972 (black and white pastel and charcoal on paper). | Virginia Herrick Deknatel Purchase Fund and Lee M. Friedman Fund, Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, © Estate of John Wilson
Installation view of “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery (Feb. 8-June 22, 2025). Shown in foreground, Maquette for “Eternal Presence,” modeled 1985, cast 1998 (bronze, 101.6 × 76.2 × 94 cm / 40 × 30 × 37 inches), Cast by Paul King Foundry. | Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
FIND MORE about John Wilson and his legacy from his family on Brookline.News
BOOKSHELF
“John Wilson: Witnessing Humanity” was published to accompany the exhibition of the same name, the first major retrospective of the artist. In 1985, John Wilson (1922-2015) made a drawing of Martin Luther King Jr., during the process of working on a bust commission of the civil rights leader for the U.S. Capitol. The image has become one of Wilson’s most recognizable works. It was featured in a 2002 Smithsonian exhibition and featured on the cover of the catalog: “In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
