Richard Wilson was born in London, in 1953. After receiving a foundation on printing, the artist continued his education by receiving a BA degree in Art and Design from Hornsey College of Art. Later on, he completed his MA degree in Fine Arts at University of Reading.
In his career expanding over forty years, Wilson has exhibited widely nationally and internationally has made major museum exhibitions and public works in countries as diverse as Japan, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Australia and numerous countries throughout Europe. Wilson has also represented Britain in the Sydney, Sao Paulo, Venice and Aperto Biennial and the Yokohama Triennal, was nominated for the Turner Prize on two occasions and was awarded the prestigious DAAD residency in Berlin 1992/3. He was one of a select number of artists invited to create a major public work for The Millennium Dome and the only British artist invited to participate in Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial 2000, Japan.
The artist became renowned internationally with his pieces that interfere with the architectural spaces, that were created with the inspiration he got from buildings and engineering. For his most acknowledged work “20:50”, Wilson has filled the gallery space with petroleum. The iconic installation that leads the spectator to a space that is filled with petroleum with a pathway was defined as “one of the masterpieces of the modern age” by the art critic Andrew Graham Dixon. “20:50” that was included to the Saatchi Collection in 1987 was later sold to David Walsh in 2017 by Charles Saatchi. The piece still takes part in the collection of the Museum of Old and News Art – M.O.N.A. that is founded and directed by David Walsh.
Wilson is mostly known for his installations and the innovative artistic interpretation he brought to sculpture. In his pieces that were created for specific spaces, yet can be adapted to others, the artist contemplates on relationships of materials and objects used in everyday life. Wilson discovers new ways of perspective and balance with amalgamation of architecture and engineering.
Richard Wilson lives and works in London.