INTERVIEW: Emerging Artist Stephen Wilson On Gaining Hamptons Traction After Market Art + Design

Emerging luxury artist Stephen Wilson was incredibly well received at the Market Art + Design in Bridgehampton earlier this July. He further gained recognition for his Luxury series, intricately embroidering beautiful designs atop high-end designer boxes such as Hermes and Gucci. Most recently, his work was installed at the Traditional Home‘s Hampton Designer Showhouse, alongside the famed Kaplan Twins.

With all the recent buzz around Wilson, we took the chance to catch up and get to know him better:

Can you talk a bit about how you got started with art?

SW: Art has always been with me – my early career, I was a musician- playing in band and also doing embroidery-design freelance work in the New York fashion industry. I have always been drawn to the decorative arts and I fortuitously started working in the embroidery field in the 1990’s. I have been an embroidery designer for over 25 years now and have designed for fashion, home decor, traditional sewing and crafts as well as now, contemporary art.

Who are some artists that inspired your work during the course of your career?

SW: Some all time favorites are Chuck Close, George Condo, Ryan McGuiness, Damien Hirst… from the street art world I am drawn to Retna, Swoon, FAILE and KAWS. I also am a collector and one of my favorite recent acquisitions is a Miles Aldridge after Harland Miller print that I spotted at Art Miami. I love going to fairs for the energy and just seeing so much work in one place. It helps me to refine my unique vision and also inspires new developments in my process as well.

Can you talk a bit about the pieces that were showcased at Market Art + Design in the Hamptons?

SW: For Market Art + Design I chose to showcase works from my ongoing Luxury series, where I rework the idea of found object assemblage, utilizing designer boxes and packaging as the canvas. I wanted to capture the spirit of summertime in the Hamptons, colorful, carefree and luxuriously laid-back. The booth featured a colorful rainbow of 8 Hermès Drip pieces as well as limited-edition works featuring Gucci packaging with Hamptons-inspired florals and natural elements.

In what ways will the Hamptons community be able to interact and view your work in the future? Any future shows?

SW: I’ll be around! Midsummer at the Parrish, art openings, etc. My work is currently on view throughout July at Roman Fine Art in East Hampton for the Art Market Summer Group exhibition. I also just created a site-specific butterfly wall installation that will be on display at Traditional Home Magazine’s Hampton Designer Showhouse with designer Lisa Mende. The Showhouse will be open from July 22nd through September 3rd.