John Wilson

“I believe that every piece of art that I produce is part of me.  I put my heart and my soul into everything I create, which is why art is so important to me.  I take it very seriously and will continue to do so.  Art is a very important step I took in my life and will always have respect for it because it has guided me to the right steps in life.” -John Wilson

John Wilson was born in 1973 in Kitimat, BC, a member of the Haisla nation.  His crest is Killer Whale.  He has always been an artist at heart, but only recently learned to carve. His education also extended to a class taught by sculptor/jeweler Heber Reece in 2004, as well as schooling at the Freda Diesing Scool of Northwest Coast art with instructors Stan Bevan, Ken McNeil and Dempsey Bob.

Wilson recalls being amazed by paintings and traditional regalia at a very young age.  His influences include Robert Davidson, Dempsey Bob, Don Yeomans, Tom Eneas and Klatle-Bhi.  His favorite medium is wood but he branches out into acrylics and prints, and plans to experiment with other media—such as jewelry—in the future.  Wilson has received commissions with the Spirit of the Kitlope Dance Group from the Haisla nation, who use his creations for traditional songs and dances.  These commissions included an Eagle mask, Killer Whale mask, two Beaver masks, and two Raven masks.

Wilson has lived in Terrace, BC since 1980.