The Pool Painting

Find more on (b. 1995, Chicago, IL) Bumpy Wilson is known for a combination of abstract and bright minimal acrylic paintings, the subject of which vary from basketball hoops to ambiguous landscapes. Made quickly with patience, his work invites the viewer to make connections and sustain attention: these, he says, “are simple and appealing, sure. But there’s more to them, there are layers and purpose, I don’t want that to be lost in my work.” In Bumpy’s paintings, the subject serves as his foundational structure, holding color, form, and light; his compositions are characterized by chaos and subtleness in precise spatial and proportional relationships. The visual experience that the artist fights for is heightened by his use of color and contrasting matte planes, shiny movement, and areas in which are at times never touched. His varied imagery attempts to engage you with current events, he has noted, “Once you see an issue or subject from another angle, you’ll have a hard time ignoring it or viewing it unilaterally. I prefer to see the world autonomously.” Through his art, Bumpy blurs the boundaries between different art movements that command an awareness of the compositions that inspired his body of work. Bumpy was born in 1995 in the Chicagoland area. Following a hard fought degree in Visual Arts with a focus in Expanded Media at The University of Kansas in 2018, he spent almost four years working at Hindman Auctions viewing and handling Antiquities, Fine Art, Sports Memorabilia, and Fine Furniture. The artist has exhibited in many group shows, art fairs, and has most recently been working on commission and building rapport with local galleries.