The acme of Conceptualism is the philophical conversations with Ian Wilson. they last more or less an hour and are about the problem of problems, the basis of all philosophy and also life: Truth. (...)The discussion is not recorded, and there only remains a piece of paper, signed by Ian Wilson, and with the date and the phrase "The was a discussion".

 

 

Ian Wilson was born in 1940 in Durban, South Africa.

He moved to the United States in 1960, living in New York City from 1966 to 1986. He has exhibited internationally since the mid-1960s, and has engaged in Discussions at venues worldwide since beginning the series in 1968. Wilson’s work have been held at venues internationally, including Paula Cooper Gallery, New York (1969); Dwan Gallery, New York (1970); the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles (1971); New York University, New York (1971, 1977); Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1970, 1975); Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands (1976–83, 1985, 1986, 2005, 2009); Documenta 7, Kassel, Germany (1982); Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (1989); Galerie Jan Mot, Brussels (2004, 2006, 2008, 2011); Le Consortium, Dijon (2004); Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (2006, 2007); Kunsthaus Graz (2006); Peter Blum Gallery, New York (2007); Swiss Institute, New York (2007); Museion Bolzano (2008); Galeria Luisa Strina, São Paulo (2008) and, more recently, Galerie Jan Mot at Art Basel 41 (2010).

A catalogue raisonné recording participant reactions to the discussions was produced by the Van Abbemuseum in collaboration with Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and Musée d'art moderne et contemporain (Mamco), Geneva, in 2008.

Wilson’s work is included in private and public collections, including Giuseppe Panza di Biumo, Milan; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Musée d'art moderne et contemporain, Geneva; ZKM/Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany; and most recently the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

 

SELECTED SOLO SHOWS

 

2017

Ian Wilson ,Taro Nasu Gallery ,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Ian Wilson ,KW Institute for Contemporary Art ,Berlin, Germany

2013

Ian Wilson: Statements ,Jan Mot, Brussels ,Brussels, Belgium

Ian Wilson: Statements ,Jan Mot, Mexico City ,Mexico, Mexico

2012

Ian Wilson ,Jan Mot, Brussels ,Brussels, Belgium

2011

BFA Fall 2011 Senior Studio Exhibition ,Catherine J. Smith Gallery ,Boone, North Carolina, USA

2009

Ian Wilson: Reconstructed Paintings ,Jan Mot, Brussels ,Brussels, Belgium

 

SELECTED GROUP SHOWS

 

2023

CrossWords, Osart Gallery, Milan

Time: An Exploration Of Some Notions Of Time ,Kunsthaus Zürich ,Zürich, Switzerland

2022

The Future Is Behind Us ,A4 Arts Foundation ,Cape Town, South Africa

Works on Paper ,Taro Nasu Gallery ,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

2020

Paper Works ,Taro Nasu Gallery ,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

2017

The Transported Man ,Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University ,East Lansing, Michigan, USA

Adam Pendleton: Shot him in the face ,KW Institute for Contemporary Art ,Berlin, Germany

2015

Hotel Theory ,REDCAT Gallery ,Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

2011

Lawrence Weiner & Ian Wilson: Finite + Infinite ,Artspeak ,Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2010

Art Unlimited ,Art Basel ,Basel, Switzerland

2009

Repetition: Summer Display 1983 (Play Van Abbe) ,Van Abbemuseum ,Eindhoven, Netherlands

Pierre Bismuth, Mario Garcia Torres, David Lamelas, Ian Wilson at FIAC ,Jan Mot, Brussels ,Brussels, Belgium