Nelson painter Abby Wilson has been elected to signature status with the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA). Founded in 1941 by professional working artists, the FCA is the largest arts service organization in Canada.
Wilson’s portfolio was reviewed by a rigorous panel jury of more than 20 senior artists before being voted in. Wilson is now one of 225 Associate Members of the Federation whose quality of work has been judged to be excellent.
This was Wilson’s third time applying for signature status.
“The Federation was founded by my biggest influences — members of the Group of Seven — and the opportunity to follow in their footsteps as a landscape painter is a great joy,” she said.
Wilson’s work captures local West Kootenay landscapes with vibrant colours and strong geometric shapes. Most of her inspiration is gathered while hiking on trails around Nelson.
Wilson’s latest body of work, entitled Lands Far Away, combines local landmarks with descriptions of Middle Earth, using artificial intelligence to imagine new landscapes that are both familiar and fantastic. Lands Far Away will be showing at the Langham in Kaslo, May-July 19 and showing at the Arts Station in Fernie Sept. 26-Oct. 31.