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Artist Statement:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Exhibitions:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Conor Wilson Biography:
| Biographical information for Conor Wilson can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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33
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Single
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| Children |
0
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| Religion |
Buddhist |
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| Education |
Graduate Degree |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
surfing
mountain biking
yoga
snowboarding
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Painting Acrylic
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
Pop Art - (1958 - 1975)
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
Alex Grey
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| Favorite Work of Art |
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Victor Vassarely, Picasso, Escher, Giger, Graffiti, Street art, Pop art, Op art |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
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| Your Personal Biography |
I was born on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea in 1973, two degrees south of the equator. We lived there until I was three, in a house on stilts that would rock with the earthquakes, the beaches were volcanic black sand, and when my parents were at work the local villagers would look after us. My parents met in Zambia three years earlier, where my sister was born. We spent many years living in the Middle Eastern states of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman. When I was eight I came to the UK to be schooled. My Mum and Dad have always had a passion for travel and adventure. They still live abroad. I’ve been on a few inspirational journies of my own, the most notable being through India and Nepal, but that a story for another day.
After A-levels I studied Mechanical Engineering for a year, and then Geography & Geology for a year. I could’nt see myself pursuing careers in either one of these disciplines and so abandoned them to pursue an artistic and creative career of my own making. Both these courses were in Birmingham and so I found myself living there for the next 5yrs as I developed my artistic skills and built up a strong portfolio of work. I spent my time skateboarding, sketching, painting, and partying. From a very early age I loved sketching, and during this time in Birmingham I spent a huge amount of time doing very detailed drawings from my mind, I truly believed that this was the most truthful type of art, I mean it could’nt be any more direct….pencil, paper, mind. Having built up a collection of drawings I then needed a medium by which I could paint on the scale that I wanted. My friend, and fellow artist Chu, lent me an airbrush and compressor, I took to it quickly and naturally, and started work on my first large scale paintings.
In the summer of 1996, my friend Chu set up a groundbreaking street art exhibition. It was an ambitious event and was planned alongside “Ideal Skateboards” 5th anniversary birthday bash. In all 14 of the finest graffiti artists from around the UK showed their work….and me my airbrushed pieces. The Custard factory fountain was drained and a mini ramp built in it, the best skaters from across the UK were invited to style their skills. Bands and DJ’s played on three different stages, the beer flowed, the ladies danced and a great time was had by the 500 or so strong crowd who attended. There was huge interest in my work.
Over the following weekend the party continued, there was live break dancing, DJ’s LTJ Bukem, Sneaker Pimps, New Flesh for Old, and many other celebrated musicians played in the exhibition space. The show did much to bring Street Art and it’s culture to a wider audience. I was even interviewed by Carlton TV for the local evening news, which at the time was a nerve wracking experience.
On the second weekend of the show I had an accident in the exhibition space that left me needing 5hrs of micro surgery on my right arm. At the time the consultant thought it likely I would not regain movement in the fingers and wrist of my right hand. I might never paint again. Whilst in Hospital Uri Geller rang me, I thought it was a mate playing a practical joke at first, but sure enough it was he of spoon bending fame. Uri had chanced on the exhibition and was interested in buying all 6 of my paintings. My joy was over shadowed by the very real possibility that I might not be able to paint any others. Never the less Uri was still interested and vowed to help me with my recovery. I did recover and soon had full strength and movement back in my right arm. Uri acted as my agent for the next two years, securing commissions with British Airways, introducing me to many influential people and setting up a show in New York. It was a fruitful period of artistic development, and an exciting time.
In 1998 I decided to go it alone and since then have established a successful creative career for myself. As well as selling my paintings and prints, I have been commissioned to work as a mural artist on a variety of different projects from Cable cars in the French Alps (see mural collection) to Jeans for Levi’s (London fashion week photo shoot), to bars, clubs and restaurants. You can see it all in the different collections.
I now live near the North Devon coastal village of Croyde. And spend most of my time surfing, sketching, and painting.
Enjoy. |
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