Bill Hutson, also known as William R. Hutson, (September 6, 1936 – September 21, 2022), was an African-American abstract fine artist, who specialized in painting and collage. Active since the early 1960s,[1] he was based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and continued painting until his death. Despite becoming legally blind due to glaucoma, Huston worked in large format.[2]
Hutson was born in San Marcos, Texas, on September 6, 1936.[1] His father, Floyd Hutson, was a musician, who died when Hutson was four years old. Hutson's mother was a custodian, and she died several years after his father, leaving Hutson and his siblings to live with relatives. Hutson drew throughout his childhood, and took a correspondence course in drawing, but was not aware of art as a career until his late teens.[3] He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on September 21, 2022.[4]
Hutson completed his high school education in San Marcos, Texas, before enlisting in the United States Air Force.[5] While serving, he took a drawing course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque from 1956 to 1957.[5] He additionally studied art at Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and the San Francisco Academy of Art in the late 1950s and early 1960s.[1]
In addition to his studies at several colleges and universities, Hutson also completed an apprenticeship with the artist Frank N. Ashley from 1960 to 1962.[6]
From 1963 to 1970, Hutson traveled extensively throughout Europe, visiting cities such as Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. During this time, Hutson's art was exhibited throughout the continent, and as a result, his art resides in many European collections.[3]
In the years following his European travels, Hutson worked a variety of positions, both in museums and academia, including:
Hutson's art has been exhibited internationally, in both group and solo exhibitions since 1964.[1] In 2020, Hutson's art was featured in a solo exhibition, titled Bill Hutson: Selections from the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College, Pennsylvania at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg, PA.[7] In 2021, Hutson's art was featured in a solo exhibition at Texas State Galleries in his hometown of San Marcos, TX, as well as a group exhibition at The Art Students League in New York, NY.[6]
Notably, in 2004, Hutson curated an exhibition for the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College, titled Something To Look Forward To.[8] Featuring work by acclaimed artists Howardena Pindell, Alvin Loving, Edward Clark, and Sam Gilliam, among others, the exhibition celebrated the art of selected African-American artists over the age of 60.[9]
Hutson received several awards and public recognition throughout his career. In 1972, he received the Cassandra Foundation Award.[6] In 1974, he was granted a fellowship through the National Endowment for the Arts in the amount of $7500.[10] In 1980, Hutson received recognition through the Creative Artists Public Service Program (CAPS) in New York, NY.[6]
Hutson's art has been collected by museums and private collectors all over the world. His art is held at:
Hutson became involved with Franklin & Marshall College in 1989, when he joined the faculty. He taught in the art department from 1989 to 1999.[7] In 2010, Hutson donated a collection of his art and his personal library and papers, including substantial archival materials, to the college.[5] The collection is shared by the Phillips Museum of Art and the Franklin & Marshall College Library. Hutson was the Jennie Brown Cook & Betsy Hess Cook Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at the college, a position he had held since 2005.[11]