Wes Wilson – Matthew Funk

By: Matthew Funk

Born in Sacramento, California in, 1937, Wes Wilson was a leader in popularizing and creating the psychedelic poster design and art that was so prevalent in the 60s. Wilson primarily worked out of San Francisco and was considered one of the most important designers to come out of San Franciso. Primarily working with musicians, Wilson designed for big names like Bill Graham as well as working for venues like The Filmore. Wilson is heavily associated with the peace movement and this is partly because of how well he was able to capture and memorialize it in a visual aspect. He was heavily inspired by the art nouveau movement and those influences were clearly seen in his art. His ability to creatively use type as illustrated elements is just as recognizable as his visuals themselves, which is another reason he is so well known and respected. Sadly Wilson passed away in 2020, but fortunately, his art and influence are still seen today. His bold colours and melting lines are very recognizable to any art or music lover.