Witnessing Humanity: John Wilson at the Museum of Fine Arts

We heard fabulous reviews of this exhibit from BOLLI members, so we want to bring it to the full BOLLI community.  

Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, John Wilson (1922–2015) is one of Boston’s most esteemed artists. His work, made over the span of 60 years, continues to resonate with the persistent realities of disenfranchisement, racial prejudice, and social injustice.

We have arranged a private tour on Friday, April 25 at 11 am.  No charge for the tour but pre-registration and MFA admission our required.  Please contact Jennifer Coplon jencoplon@gmail.com for further instruction.  The group will enjoy lunch together in the museum cafeteria following the tour.

“Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson” is the largest-ever exhibition of Wilson’s work, co-organized by the MFA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Featuring approximately 110 works by the artist in a wide range of media—prints, drawings, paintings, sculpture, and illustrated books—the exhibition explores the many ways Wilson called attention to racial, social, and economic injustices through his art. Challenging both biases and omissions, Wilson explored subjects that include anti-Black violence, the civil rights movement, labor, and family life—with a particular focus on fatherhood. Portraits like Julie and Becky (1956–78) and his Young Americans suite of life-size portraits (about 1972–75) celebrate the essential humanity of Wilson’s family and friends, while other works like Deliver Us from Evil (1943) and The Trial (1951) depict the heinous impacts of systemic prejudice and racism. Wilson’s work speaks to shared experiences, while also displaying his personal search for identity as an artist, Black man, parent, and American.

To learn more, two video links about John Wilson and his work are featured below.