About The Artist
My primary interest is to create Pure Paintings which develop from a directed focus and response to the support, pigments and tools. I am attempting to create paintings that are narrative neutral, self contained and free from reference to commercial, social or manufactured influences: Embedded with an aura or a mnemonic coding.
Since 2010 the scale of the work has evolved and the medium changed from watercolor/sumi ink to oil on linen. I live and maintain a studio in San Rafael and until recently the Sonoma Coast.
My journey began with a foundation in architecture, having received two degrees from UC Berkeley and practicing for over 20 years. Throughout my architectural career, I maintained a continuous flow of watercolor paintings and drawings, which not only complemented my architectural endeavors but also fueled my passion for the arts. In 2001, I shifted my focus entirely to painting abstract landscapes in sumi-ink and watercolor. This transition led me to study natural systems, Chinese painting techniques, and philosophical ideals rooted in Buddhism and Daoism.
A transformative phase of my artistic journey occurred after a move to Marin in 2012. Under the guidance of Chester Arnold at the College of Marin, I studied advanced oil painting and technique. Two years prior, in 2010, I had begun working with oil on linen, discovering a more compelling and direct method of painting. My creative process is intuitive; the paintings evolve as I construct each element, primarily concerned with shape and pigment relationships until a coherent structure is established.
I channel my experiences—spanning watercolors, architecture, travel, and research—into a more profound connection with pure art. This methodical mixing and application of paint have brought me closer to an understanding of the true essence of reality that is embedded in each individual painting.
Over the last 45 years, I have exhibited my work in numerous shows and open studios and have been involved in a variety of art sales. Now residing and working full-time in Marin, my oil painting studio has relocated from Sea Ranch, allowing me to focus on my art and the community.
For those interested in further exploring my art and writings, I invite you to visit my website at http://www.KeithWilsonArt.com
Oil Paint
Studio Information
FEDEX BUILDING 2400 Bridgeway
SUITE 300
Enter off of MANSHIP WAY, space on 3rd LEVEL (Propp&Guerin Design)
Contact Information
Exhibitions & Press
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITS
2025 BUILDING MEMORIES, Crome Architecture, San Rafael, CA.
2024 THE SHAPE OF COLOR, Main & lower Lobby, The Sea Ranch Lodge Jan/Feb
2024 Recent oil paintings, LyndonDesign Gallery, The Sea Ranch, CA
2023 Studio Discovery Tour, 39295 Pacific Reach, The Sea Ranch LABOR DAY WEEKEND
2022 Exhibition of Paintings, Main Lobby, The Sea Ranch Lodge April 2022
2022 Studio Discovery Tour, 39295 Pacific Reach, The Sea Ranch LABOR DAY WEEKEND
2021 Gualala Arts Center Main Gallery, Combined Forces, artwork in collaboration with photographer Arun Patel (April)
2021 Studio Discovery Tour, 39295 Pacific Reach, The Sea Ranch LABOR DAY WEEKEND
2019 Keith Wilson Paintings, ArtReach Gallery, Portland, OR (Sept./October.)
2019 Studio Discovery Tour, 39295 Pacific Reach, The Sea Ranch LABOR DAY WEEKEND
2018 Sofie Contemporary Arts, Calistoga – Forgotten Cities of the Heart. 80-watercolors.
2018 Studio Discovery Tour, 39295 Pacific Reach, The Sea Ranch LABOR DAY WEEKEND
2016 Placewares Gallery,Gualala – The Building Plan Artistically Considered – Sept -Nov
2015 Art By The Sea – The Sea Ranch open studio tour
2014 Placewares Gallery, Gualala, CA – Black & Gold in Color
2013 Placewares Gallery, Gualala, CA – A Structure of Color
GROUP EXHIBITS/JURIED SHOWS
22025 PINTSIZE 3, Transmission Gallery, Oakland, CA.
2025 MEMBERS SALON, ARTWORKS DOWNTOWN, San Rafael, CA.
2025 stARTup ART FAIR, Room 206 Hotel delSOL, San Francisco, CA.
2025 RIPPLES, UC LAW, San Francisco, CA. Curator: Esther Mullouh
2024 CHAOS, O’Hanlon Gallery, Mill Valley, CA. Juror: Chester Arnold,
2024 ABSTRACT DIMENSIONS, Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA, Juror: Diane Williams
2024 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OPEN, MarinMOCA, Jurors: Larry Rinder, Donna Seager, Mariah Nelson
2024 STRICTLY ABSTRACT, O’Hanlon Gallery, Juror: Anthony Meier, Gallery
2024 BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, Belvedere Tiburon Library Gallery
2023 DE YOUNG OPEN 2023– De Young Museum, San Francisco September-January
2023 BRIGHT SIDE – Jen Tough Gallery, Santa Fe, Juror: Jen Tough,
2023 LUSH – Artist Alliance, Juror: Jen Tough, online exhibition: Artsy.net
2022 STRICKLY ABSTRACT, O’Hanlon Online Gallery, Juror: Embert Korn, Desta Gallery
2022 LUMINOSITY – Artist Alliance, Juror: Jen Tough, online exhibition.
2022 ARTIST VISION 2022 – Marin Art Society, Juried online exhibition.
2021 JAM SESSION – Artist Alliance, Juror: Gina Tuzzi, online exhibition.
2021 FIGURES AND FACES – Artist Alliance, Juror: Jen Tough, online exhibition.
2019 NEW CURRENCIES – GPG@TheBank, Jennifer Perlmutter, Lafayette, CA
2018 ARTISTS SPRING – Sofie Contemporary Arts, Calistoga,CA
2018 stARTup Fair – Hotel Del Sol room 203 – San Francisco, CA
2017 BLUETS – GEARBOX GALLERY- Oakland – Juror: Jack Fischer
2017 Contemporary Landscape Exhibition – Marin MOCA – Juror: Chester Arnold
2017 FALKIRK FALL OPEN JURIED EXHIBITION – San Rafael – Juror: Dorallen Davis
2017 stARTup Fair – Hotel Del Sol room 223 – San Francisco, CA
2016 SUMMER NATIONAL PAINTING EXHIBIT –Marin MOCA – Juror: Brian Gross
2016 ARCHITECTURE SHOW – Artworks Downtown, San Rafael – Juror: Erick Moreau
2015 FALL NATIONAL DRAWING EXHIBITION – Marin MOCA – Juror: Jack Fischer
2015 MICROCOSMOS SHOW – Gallery 621, Benicia – Juror: Chester Arnold
2015 BOLD– O’Hanlon Arts Center – Juror: Robert Green
2015 THE HOME SHOW – Gualala Arts Center
2015 COMPOSING CHAOS – O’Hanlon Arts Center – Juror: Chester Arnold
2015 ABSTRACTIONS – Pacific Art League, Palo Alto – Juror: Robert Polack
2012 BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES Sebastopol Center for the Arts- juried show
2011 SHATTERED – Marin MOCA Juror: Kenneth Baker
2011 BLACK & WHITE – O’Hanlon Arts Center – Juror: Richard Whittaker
2011 NATURE’S PALETTE – Marin Arts Gallery, San Rafael
2010 WEST COAST BIENNIAL – Redding (Juror’s Award) Juror: Bob Nugent
2010 THE MAY SHOW -Gualala Arts Center (1stPrize) Juror: Lucinda Barnes, Chief Curator BerkeleyArtMuseum/PFA
2009 CIVIC CENTER – Juried Art Exhibit- Berkeley City Hall
2024 AMERICAN ARTWORK – Juried competition of New Work 2026
2024 MARK MAKERS MAGAZINE – Collabrative project with Arun Patel
2022 BAY AREA ARTISTS published by JEN TOUGH GALLERY, Santa Fe
2019 KEITH WILSON from Empathy to Abstraction – interview with Dr. Sheldon Hurst, Director ARTREACH , Portland, OR
2018 THE COVE.com – Artists Respond to Fire
2017 The Sea Ranch SOUNDINGS – article on Keith Wilson’s work and inspiration
2016 MFA NEVER, Catalog published by Root Division San Francisco
2015 The Placewares+LyndonDesign Gallery: The First Ten Years in Gualala
2011 Drawing on front & back cover and 5 interior pages of Awareness, The Feldenkrais Journal, # 23 “Aesthetics”.
2007 Drawing on front & back cover of Awareness, The Feldenkrais Journal, # 20.
2005 Painting published in fall 2005 issue of Inquiring Mind, entitled “Earth Dharma”
1980 Keith Wilson Catalog. Printed by Yolla Bolla Press
2010 THE MAY SHOW – Gualala Arts Center (1stPrize) Juror: Lucinda Barnes, Chief Curator BAM
Education
EDUCATION
1976 BA Environmental Design, (minor in etching) U.C. Berkeley
1979 Master of Architecture, U.C. Berkeley MA Thesis “Paul Klee + Memory: An approach to Architectural Ornament. Architect Charles Moore, Thesis Advisor
2012-14 College of Marin – Oil painting study – Instructor: Chester Arnold
