Jason Wilson
Beyond the Quilt: Abstract Realms of Color and Line
East Gallery - January 10 – March 2, 2025
Award-winning artist Jason Wilson of McAlester merges mathematics with aesthetic design, creating technically perfect, abstract artworks. As a young boy, Wilson watched his grandmother design, assemble, and sew family quilts. Inspired by the intricate patterning of those quilts, Wilson uses bold color, precise linework, and a rigorous studio practice to create his masterful abstract artworks. He describes his work as perceptual art, which uses the process of conceptualizing the composition, mathematically calculating the design, plotting the components, drawing the lines, and flooding the shapes with acrylic paint.
Wilson developed his own paint formula that allows him to create artwork that is technically precise. He is interested in exploring how the viewer perceives the work, and he seeks to observe the emotions evoked by it.
Two of the works in this exhibition were inspired by the Gee’s Bend quilters, who used scrap materials in various styles to create masterpieces based on the African American history of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. Wilson uses a similar technique by using leftover paint in a playful way, merging various colors to evoke an improvisational feel.
Other works in the exhibition use grayscale to create a dramatic effect with the contrast of the intense darks and bright whites of the palette. The works in this exhibition highlight Wilson’s exceptional skills—a result of his unwavering dedication, strong work ethic, and deep passion for artmaking passed down through generations of Oklahomans.
About the Artist
Wilson attended Oklahoma Baptist University and graduated with a degree in art education. As a public school fine arts educator for 31 years, Wilson shared the gift of artmaking with both elementary and secondary level students while pursuing his career as a professional artist. Retired from teaching, he creates large scale abstract paintings from his home studio. Spanning four decades, his exhibition record includes solo exhibitions and juried and group shows across Oklahoma and the region. His work is currently featured in the Washington, DC, office of the Governor of Oklahoma.
About the Oklahoma State Capitol Galleries
The Oklahoma Arts Council supports the work of professional Oklahoma artists by showcasing their work in three galleries in the Oklahoma State Capitol. Exhibitions exemplify the outstanding and diverse artistic talent of the people of Oklahoma while enriching lives and promoting public interest and understanding of the arts. Exhibitions in the North, East and Governor’s galleries rotate every 60 days and are viewed by thousands of people from around the world who work in and tour the historic building.
Portfolio Submission
Artists interested in having their artwork considered for exhibition in the Oklahoma State Capitol galleries may submit their portfolios using the link below. Submission of a portfolio does not guarantee an exhibition.