Foundation Drawing: The Legacy of John Wilson

BU College of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts presents Foundation Drawing: The Legacy of John Wilson, marking the culmination of SVA’s collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in conjunction with their exhibition Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson, on view through June 22, 2025.

Born in Roxbury, MA, Wilson was a distinguished member of the Boston University School of Visual Arts faculty for more than 20 years (1964–1986). He primarily taught undergraduate foundation drawing, which remains an essential part of SVA’s curriculum and is required for all first-year students.

Students in SVA’s current first-year drawing classes were invited to visit the MFA Boston to experience Wilson’s work firsthand. His prints, drawings, paintings, sculpture, and illustrated books are largely figurative and call attention to racial, social, and economic injustice — themes that remain powerfully relevant today. In response, students created their own works, which will be on display in the Commonwealth Gallery at CFA from March 17 through April 18.

In addition, archival materials related to Wilson — curated by BU’s Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center — will be on display, including drawings by Wilson’s students, photos of him teaching, newspaper clips, and selections from his teaching records.

This collaboration with the MFA Boston, along with the opportunity for students, staff, and faculty to engage with Wilson’s work, is an important way to honor his legacy and acknowledge his contributions as both an artist and educator.