"Photography looks like pictures but it's really ideas, and they're your ideas." Joel Meyerowitz

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Wilson is a designer and regionalist photographer whose deeply personal perspective celebrates central Illinois. He was a medical and generalist photographer and executive writer in the healthcare field for 33 years. He worked in the library science field for several years where he continued his study of art history and helped establish a full-time public relations position that stands today. He cut steel in a foundry for a decade and drove a truck for a time. Wilson is a University of Illinois graduate, a graduate of the Fine Arts program at Illinois Central College, and juried Illinois Artisan for Photography, Illinois State Museum.

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Along the way, Wilson has worked with art directors, teams of designers, photographers, and videographers. Received numerous awards and recognition for writing, editing, and publishing. He’s taught adult drawing courses, served as a juror for congressional art shows for high school students, and served on the inaugural steering committee for Peoria’s first Sister City Arts Exhibition to Friedrichshafen, Germany.

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• Fellowship Award, National Fellowship Exhibition, Midwest Center for Photography, Wichita KS

• Burningword Literary Journal, Lafayette LA Best of the Net Award Nominee

• Portfolio Platform Artist, Midwest Center for Photography, Wichita KS

• Illinois Artist Showcase, Springfield Art Association, Springfield IL Three photographs accepted 

• Purchase Award, Harper College, Palatine IL

• James Keefe Photography Prize, 64Arts, Monmouth IL

• Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR Exhibition Catalog Cover

• Biennial Quad-State, Quincy, IL Three photographs accepted

• Donor Award, Nicolet College, Rhinelander WI

• First Award, Professional Division, Illinois State Fair, Springfield IL

• Lonnie Eugene Stewart Award of Excellence, GALEX, Galesburg IL