Wes Wilson exhibit opens at OTC April 2

The work of Wes Wilson, the father of the psychedelic rock music posters, will be featured April 2 at the Ozarks Technical Community College’s Fine Arts Department at the Gillioz Theater.

Wilson, whose iconic poster art was the calling card for a generation of rock music fans, will talk about his work at a lecture scheduled for Friday, April 2, 5 p.m. in Lincoln Hall Room 211 on OTC’s Springfield Campus.

After the talk, Wilson will be honored at a reception during the First Friday Artwalk from 6-10 p.m. on the third floor of the Gillioz Theater, where about two dozen of his posters will be on display through April 21.

All the events are free and open to the public. Wilson also designed a one-of-a-kind poster for OTC advertising his exhibit.

“I haven’t shown anything since 2005 but I’m still doing some freelance stuff,” said Wilson, who lives on his farm near Aurora with his wife, Eva, of 35 years. He has six children and 10 grandchildren.

An anonymous local collector is donating part of his Wilson poster collection for the exhibit.

Kathlene Allie, OTC’s Fine Arts Gallery Manager and art instructor, said it took about a year to arrange to have Wilson’s work put on display.

“We will have 25 of his most famous posters on display and several newer watercolor pieces,” Allie said, who added that young artists are enjoying Wilson’s work.

“It seems like the younger generation is into graffiti art and stenciling. There has been a resurgence among them into the medium Wilson made famous.”

Wilson has been creating posters since 1965 and is credited with originating what is known as the psychedelic poster. Today, Wes Wilson creates paintings, but still occasionally does new posters or new art of interest.

“We will be really excited to hear the stories behind the images that are so well-known and the whole genre of fine art that he really started,” Allie said.

For more information about the April 2 event or the month-long exhibit, call 447-8977.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.